Latest news with #MechelleTurvey
ABC News
2 days ago
- ABC News
Why weren't Cassius Turvey and Cleveland Dodd safe in Western Australia?
WARNING: This story contains references to suicide and self-harm and will be distressing for some readers. In Western Australia, two First Nations families are on parallel tracks, seeking justice for their teenage sons taken from them before their time. On the surface, there are few similarities between the deaths of Cassius Turvey and Cleveland Dodd, beyond them being Aboriginal, living in Perth, and their tragic deaths in their teens. But the pain their families are left with is the same. Against the natural order of things, two mothers have buried their sons. Two boys who should have been safe and protected — but weren't. In 2022, 15-year-old Cassius Turvey was walking home from school when he was "hunted" and viciously attacked by a gang of men. He died in hospital 10 days later from his injuries. He wasn't safe to walk home in daylight in the eastern suburbs of Perth. He wasn't safe in his community. Last week, Cassius Turvey's murderers were sentenced to life in prison. On the steps of the courthouse after the sentencing, his mother, Mechelle Turvey, proclaimed it was "justice". "There are no words that can fully capture the devastation of losing someone you love to violence," she said. "Cassius was not just part of my life, he was my future. "I will never see him grow older, never hear his voice again, never feel the comfort of his embrace … no parent should have to visit the grave of an innocent 15-year-old child who did nothing wrong." In 2023, 16-year-old Cleveland Dodd was a child being held in Casuarina Prison, an adult detention centre, albeit in the "juvenile wing". He attempted to end his own life using a hanging point in his cell and died in hospital a week later. The first child in Western Australia to die in custody. He wasn't safe under the watch of the state. He wasn't safe from known risks to his life. This week, the inquest into Cleveland Dodd's death will hear closing arguments. There is hope his death will lead to reforms to make other children in detention safer. In a statement, Cleveland's mother, Nadene Dodd, told the inquest she thought her son would be "safe" in detention. "I thought my son was safe … and that he would leave detention rehabilitated … better, not worse off," she said in a statement. "My son didn't deserve to be treated the way that he was treated. My son didn't deserve to die." It raises the question: where are First Nations children safe? Where can they be allowed to grow up — and do all that comes with it? To learn, to make mistakes, to grow? Where is the safe place for them? In recent years, across the country, a slew of new legislation has been introduced by governments to get "tough on crime". These laws have often been spurred on by high-profile crimes and calls from the community and commentators for governments to take action to "protect" the community. These include "adult-crime, adult time" laws in Queensland, "post and boast" laws in New South Wales and soon Victoria, enhanced stop and search powers in Victoria, and new "street gang" laws proposed in South Australia. These laws will all target young people, with a view to stopping criminal activity from becoming ingrained behaviour, and have all been designed with "community safety" in mind. But that "safety" comes with unintended consequences, the brunt of which is usually borne by Indigenous communities. Over-policing of Indigenous communities leads to more Indigenous people in prisons, where they are less likely to be bailed, disproportionately locked up and over-represented among deaths in custody. But there is no guarantee these laws will have the desired effect. In fact, research shows that over-policing of young people leads to poorer outcomes, an increased likelihood of being on remand and further contact with the justice system. It can be the first domino to fall in what can lead to adult offending, jail time and all of the well-documented risks that come with being Aboriginal in prison. Risks that took Cleveland Dodd's life, and almost 600 other First Nations people since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody in 1991. The coronial inquest into Cleveland Dodd's death will make findings on the factors and events leading up to his death in 2023 and whether there were institutional failings. This will include looking at whether the juvenile wing, Unit 18, was a safe place to house young people, and the numerous warnings provided about conditions inside it. Removing hanging points from prisons was a recommendation of the royal commission 35 years ago, but many still remain and in some cases, as reported by The Guardian last month, the same hanging points have been used in multiple suicides in prison. But there have been no reactive law changes to make children in prisons safer following Cleveland's death. No snap legislation to make the conditions he died in illegal, and Unit 18 remains open with children kept in detention alongside adults, despite calls for the unit to close immediately. It is hard to imagine many reasons why the first child to die in detention in WA would not mark a turning point, a moment in which the state government would say "never again". Cleveland's death has largely been met with silence by legislators. The issue of racism has been threaded through Cassius Turvey's murder, after his attackers used racist slurs as they "hunted" Cassius and his friends down. At the time, the police commissioner, Col Blanch, was quick to dismiss notions of the attack being racially motivated, saying Cassius was "in the wrong place at the wrong time". But in the community, the fear was real; it was palpable. Mothers knew their children weren't safe to be visibly blak and walking through their suburbs. After Cassius's killers were sentenced, Mechelle Turvey said her son had been "racially vilified". "That's the truth. If anyone thinks their actions were not racially motivated, many Australians would be left scratching their head," she said. The West Australian Supreme Court did not prosecute whether Cassius had been the victim of a racially motivated attack, but Justice Quinlan said the use of racist slurs "rippled" throughout the community and created "justifiable fear". "It's no surprise … that the kids would think they were being targeted because they were Aboriginal, and the attack would create justifiable fear for them and for the broader community that this was a racially motivated attack," he said. "The fear is real and legitimate. You are responsible for that fear." Despite this, there has been no "tough on crime" response — no move by legislators to toughen up laws against racial attacks, refuse bail to offenders or increase police powers to address racially motivated crimes. The need for Indigenous communities to feel safe has not spurred on reactive legislation that could see harsher punishment for using racist slurs, despite hate speech being a known precursor to racially motivated violence. The safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is too often compromised by members of parliament needing to be seen to be doing their best to "protect the community" — despite the numerous studies and experts telling them what the consequences for First Nations people will be. After the justice processes for Cassius and Cleveland have concluded and their families left to grieve away from the spotlight, the question will remain: will anything be done to protect Indigenous kids from the communities that harm them?
The Age
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Age
Brisbane news live: The road rules changing on Tuesday
Latest posts Pinned post from 7.23am The road rules changing tomorrow By Queensland will reduce speed limits from 50km/h to 40km/h in some busy areas and increase fines and car registration by 3.4 per cent on Tuesday, July 1. The illegal mobile phone use fine – which was $1209 – will rise to $1250 on Tuesday. Loading And drivers distracted by smartwatches could also incur hefty penalties. The fine for not having proper control of a vehicle is increasing to $389 (from $376) on July 1. A fine for driving without due care and attention will rise from of $645 to $667 (and three demerit points) from tomorrow. And in the event of a crash, a driver may be charged with dangerous driving and could risk court-imposed fines of up to $33,380 from July 1, or three years' prison time. 7.13am Wet, wet, wet way to start the week A wet day will start the week in Brisbane, with the bureau predicting that up to 30 millimetres could fall in the River City today. But at this stage it isn't looking set to stay, with only a 20 per cent chance of precipitation on an otherwise sunny day tomorrow, and dropping even further later in the week. Here's the seven-day outlook: 7.07am While you were sleeping Here's what's making news further afield this morning: Australia is headed for a $27 billion collapse in income from two of its biggest exports – liquefied gas and iron ore – as Donald Trump's trade war with China deepens fears for the global economy and stifles demand for commodities. Monday caps off a wild financial year for global markets, and therefore, for the retirement savings of just about all of us. Here's why Trump-induced mayhem doesn't scare your super fund. Mechelle Turvey branded them monsters for brutally and violently killing her son. But the truth was much more complex, said the judge who handed the killers of Cassius Turvey life sentences. Trump has pushed again for Israel and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire over the 20-month war in Gaza, as the Israeli military ordered the mass evacuation of large swathes of northern Gaza. Oscar Piastri's lead at the top of the world championship has been cut by seven points after the Australian followed home McLaren teammate Lando Norris at a sun-scorched Austrian Grand Prix. 6.39am The top stories this morning Good morning, welcome to Brisbane Times' live news coverage for Monday, June 30. Today we can expect a rainy day, with a top temperature of 19 degrees. In this morning's local headlines: The new M1 Metro starts today and the city's bus network gets its most significant shake-up in years, with more than 150 routes changing. The new system will add 160,000 services a year, with Brisbane City Council hoping faster and more reliable trips will support the city's increasing population. But many commuters are angry at the changes. Here's what you need to know. Brisbane Roar is embroiled in a legal stoush, taking one of its major sponsors to court over claims promotional payments of more than $130,000 are overdue. A major announcement from the nurses and midwives union is planned for today, as months-long negotiations with the LNP state government over pay and conditions continue. Former Queensland Labor minister Rod Welford died at the weekend, with Labor colleagues paying tribute. Brisbane Broncos and Dolphins posting victories.
ABC News
5 days ago
- ABC News
How slain teenager Cassius Turvey's mother Mechelle used courage and restraint to pave a way for justice
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains an image of a person who has died, used with the permission of their family. The scene of Mechelle Turvey hugging the lead detective of her son's murder case after two killers were sentenced to life imprisonment is a picture of the justice system and law enforcement at work. But perhaps closer to the truth, is that it's a result of one mother's courage to tread the path of justice, and also change Western Australia's police force for good. Cassius Turvey's death shook the nation. The 15-year-old boy was savagely beaten with a metal pole while walking with friends after school. Tensions swirled. An insidious fear crept into the community. The public called for justice. Thousands rallied across the country. But through all of the noise, and the pain, Mechelle Turvey stayed composed. Grief-stricken, no doubt, but composed. The community was asking questions about whether the attack was racially motivated, or to frame it another way, whether Aboriginal children could safely walk the streets as Cassius did. Decades of pain bubbled to the surface from Australia's colonial past as the First Nations community saw yet another one of their children die. The prime minister decried the "racially motivated" attack. "We are a better country than that," Anthony Albanese said. But through it all, Mechelle Turvey called for calm and urged the community not to use Cassius's death to push their own agenda. Through a cloud of grief and anger she could still see the way forward. The court did not prosecute whether racism was a motivating factor behind the expedition of misguided vigilantism which ultimately led to Cassius's death, but Chief Justice Peter Quinlan was clear the attackers racially vilified the Aboriginal children they were hunting. "It's no surprise … that the kids think they were being targeted because they were Aboriginal, and the attack would create justifiable fear for them and for the broader community that this was a racially motivated attack," Justice Quinlan said in his sentencing remarks. At the time of the attack, tensions between police and the community were at boiling point amid the #BlackLivesMatter movement sparked in the United States. Mechelle Turvey knew. She knew the attackers had been spraying racial slurs at her son and his friends. She knew the men who attacked her little boy — Jack Brearley, Brodie Palmer and Mitchell Forth — were guilty. She knew her community was grieving and in pain. But, she stayed composed because she knew the path forward was by trudging through the system. It's easy to cry and yell in anger after your son dies. And no-one would blame anyone for doing so. What's hard is controlling the unimaginable grief of losing your son for almost three years — so as to not jeopardise a trial — while the court and a jury methodically dug for the truth. Now we know the truth. Brearley is a murderer who showed no restraint when he hunted and senselessly beat an innocent boy with a metal pole. The chief justice described him as a "comical" liar who tried not only to frame an innocent man of murdering Cassius, but tried to frame Cassius as a violent attacker who deserved to be beaten. All lies. Palmer — another murderer — showed a "flicker of decency" when he interrupted Brearley's fit of rage, but as Justice Quinlan put it, "restraint in the context of a murder of a child does not weigh heavily". In the wake of her son's death, Mechelle Turvey knew perhaps more than anyone what had actually happened. But her restraint paved the way for justice to run its course. Her restraint paved the way for police officers to learn how to properly manage the needs of Aboriginal victims of crime. Mechelle Turvey now helps the WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch — who she told to "get effed" when they first met — by running a program for officers which helps to "stamp out RoboCop attitudes". The scene of Mechelle Turvey hugging Detective Senior Sergeant Stephen Cleal is a picture of the ideal: when law enforcement and the justice system help the community. But perhaps closer to the truth is that the scene is a beacon of hope that individuals — like Mechelle Turvey — can make change.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Two men jailed for life for murder of Aboriginal boy
Warning: This article contains the name and images of an Indigenous person who has died. His family has given permission to use his name and image. Two men have been sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering an Aboriginal schoolboy, in a case that shocked Australia. Cassius Turvey died of head injuries after a brutal assault on the outskirts of Perth in October 2022. The 15-year-old's killing prompted nationwide protests and vigils, also sparking debate on pervasive racism in the country. The killers, Jack Brearley and Brodie Palmer, were "callous and lacking in empathy" as they chased Turvey down and savagely beat the Noongar Yamatji boy with a metal pole, Justice Peter Quinlan told a packed courtroom on Friday. Mitchell Forth, who was convicted of manslaughter, was sentenced to 12 years in jail. The gallery cheered as Justice Quinlan handed down the sentences, while Cassius' mother Mechelle Turvey burst into tears, local media reported. At trial, Brearley, 24, and Palmer, 30, had each blamed the other for Cassius' death. Justice Quinlan found Brearley delivered the fatal blows, adding that he had shown "no remorse whatsoever". Brearley had alleged that he acted in self-defence as Cassius was armed with a knife, which the judge rejected as "complete fabrication". "You cannot make amends when you don't acknowledge the pain that you have caused. "You cannot be remorseful when in an effort to avoid responsibility… You seek to frame an innocent man and when that does not work you give false evidence that your co-accused was in fact the killer," the chief justice said in a scathing rebuke reported by ABC News. Palmer did not physically strike Cassius, but Justice Quinlan ruled that he was "equally responsible but not equally culpable". The group had also assaulted other Aboriginal teenagers in what the judge described as "so-called vigilante justice [that] was completely misdirected". A fourth offender, Ethan MacKenzie, was handed a two-and-a-half years jail term for his part in some of the other assaults. In one case, a 13-year-old boy's own crutches were used to beat him, causing bruising to his face. Prosecutors said the group had been "hunting for kids" because somebody had damaged Brearley's car windows. The attack on Cassius was the culmination of a complex series of tit-for-tat events that had nothing to do with him, they said. Justice Quinlan condemned Brearley, Palmer and Forth for their "celebration" after the assaults, calling it a "grotesque display of your complete disregard of the lives of the children you had attacked". In her victim impact statement on Thursday, Cassius' mother Mechelle Turvey said the actions of the three men were racially motivated. "Cassius was not just part of my life, he was my future," Ms Turvey said. "There are no words that can fully capture the devastation of losing someone you love to violence." While Justice Quinlan did not find the attack to be motivated by race, he said the attackers' use of racial slurs "rippled" through the Aboriginal community and created "justifiable fear". "The fear is real and legitimate. You are responsible for that fear," he said. Aboriginal boy's killing puts spotlight on racism Mother's grief at killing that's shocked Australia
BBC News
6 days ago
- BBC News
Cassius Turvey: Men jailed for life for brutal murder of Aboriginal boy
Warning: This article contains the name and images of an Indigenous person who has died. His family has given permission to use his name and image. Two men have been sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering an Aboriginal schoolboy, in a case that shocked Turvey died of head injuries after a brutal assault on the outskirts of Perth in October 2022. The 15-year-old's killing prompted nationwide protests and vigils, also sparking debate on pervasive racism in the country. The killers, Jack Brearley and Brodie Palmer, were "callous and lacking in empathy" as they chased Turvey down and savagely beat the Noongar Yamatji boy with a metal pole, Justice Peter Quinlan told a packed courtroom on Forth, who was convicted of manslaughter, was sentenced to 12 years in jail. The gallery cheered as Justice Quinlan handed down the sentences, while Cassius' mother Mechelle Turvey burst into tears, local media trial, Brearley, 24, and Palmer, 30, had each blamed the other for Cassius' death. Justice Quinlan found Brearley delivered the fatal blows, adding that he had shown "no remorse whatsoever".Brearley had alleged that he acted in self-defence as Cassius was armed with a knife, which the judge rejected as "complete fabrication". "You cannot make amends when you don't acknowledge the pain that you have caused."You cannot be remorseful when in an effort to avoid responsibility… You seek to frame an innocent man and when that does not work you give false evidence that your co-accused was in fact the killer," the chief justice said in a scathing rebuke reported by ABC did not physically strike Cassius, but Justice Quinlan ruled that he was "equally responsible but not equally culpable".The group had also assaulted other Aboriginal teenagers in what the judge described as "so-called vigilante justice [that] was completely misdirected". A fourth offender, Ethan MacKenzie, was handed a two-and-a-half years jail term for his part in some of the other one case, a 13-year-old boy's own crutches were used to beat him, causing bruising to his said the group had been "hunting for kids" because somebody had damaged Brearley's car attack on Cassius was the culmination of a complex series of tit-for-tat events that had nothing to do with him, they said. Justice Quinlan condemned Brearley, Palmer and Forth for their "celebration" after the assaults, calling it a "grotesque display of your complete disregard of the lives of the children you had attacked".In her victim impact statement on Thursday, Cassius' mother Mechelle Turvey said the actions of the three men were racially motivated. "Cassius was not just part of my life, he was my future," Ms Turvey said. "There are no words that can fully capture the devastation of losing someone you love to violence."While Justice Quinlan did not find the attack to be motivated by race, he said the attackers' use of racial slurs "rippled" through the Aboriginal community and created "justifiable fear". "The fear is real and legitimate. You are responsible for that fear," he said.
