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Perth Now
3 hours ago
- Perth Now
Indigenous teen's killer appeals verdicts and sentence
One of the men found guilty of killing an Indigenous teenager, who was chased into bushland and violently bashed, is appealing his convictions and sentence. Cassius Turvey, a Noongar Yamatji boy, died in hospital 10 days after he was deliberately struck to the head with a metal pole in Perth's eastern suburbs on October 13, 2022. Jack Steven James Brearley, 24, and Brodie Lee Palmer, 30, were sentenced to life behind bars for murdering the 15-year-old after a 12-week trial in the West Australian Supreme Court. Mitchell Colin Forth, 27, who was also accused of Cassius's murder, was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to a total 12 years' imprisonment, eligible for parole after serving 10 years. He has since lodged legal challenges against his convictions and manslaughter sentence imposed by Chief Justice Peter Quinlan. The guilty verdicts were unreasonable and unsupported, and the nine-year sentence for manslaughter was excessive given the circumstances, court documents said. Forth, who was convicted of six offences, was also given cumulative terms of one year and two years for two counts of deprivation of liberty committed on October 9 against two other youths. Forth will be eligible for parole in January 2033 after his sentence was backdated to January 2023. His other convictions for two counts of assault and stealing are for offences committed on October 9 and 13, for which he was handed concurrent sentences totalling five years and two months. Brearley delivered the fatal blows on Cassius while "hunting for kids" because somebody had smashed his car windows. He chased Cassius into bushland and knocked the teen to the ground and hit him in the head with a metal pole, causing bleeding in his brain that led to his death. When delivering the sentences for the three men in June, Justice Quinlan said the trio had cut Cassius's life short in a horrendous and vengeful act of aggression, violence and brutality. He said Forth was never the main offender in the shameful course of events but always there in the background. "You were just following along in the excitement of trying to be a tough guy," the judge said. "And you followed Mr Brearley all the way to a conviction for manslaughter." Brearley will be eligible for parole after serving 22 years and Palmer after serving 18 years. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14
The Advertiser
27-06-2025
- The Advertiser
'They're monsters': teen's murderers get life in prison
A murdered Indigenous teenager's heartbroken mother has expressed her fury at his killers after two of his assailants were handed life sentences. Cassius Turvey, a Noongar Yamatji boy, died in hospital 10 days after he was deliberately struck to the head in Perth's eastern suburbs on October 13, 2022. Jack Steven James Brearley, 24, and Brodie Lee Palmer, 30, were convicted in May of murdering the 15-year-old after a 12-week trial. They were each sentenced on Friday to life imprisonment, with Brearley eligible for parole after serving 22 years and Palmer after serving 18 years. Mitchell Colin Forth, 27, who also stood trial in the West Australian Supreme Court for the murder of Cassius and was found guilty of manslaughter, was sentenced to 12 years. He will be eligible for parole after serving 10 years. Cassius's mother, Mechelle Turvey, said she was satisfied with the sentences handed to the three men as she vented her frustration and anger over the death of her son. "I wish I was a bit younger and had better knees so I could have jumped that f**king dock," she said outside the court on Friday. "They're all freaking monsters. "No mother should have to visit the grave of a 15-year-old innocent child who did absolutely nothing." The sentences were met with applause from dozens of supporters inside the court, while verbal abuse was directed at the killers. "First thing that come to mind after Jack Brearley was sentenced was how he said my son had learned his lesson after he had bashed him in the bush," Ms Turvey said. "He learned a life lesson now." Aleesha Louise Gilmore, 23, also stood trial but was acquitted of a murder charge. Cassius was with fellow students who caught a bus to parklands to watch a fight being talked about on social media. Brearley, Forth and Palmer intercepted them near the field and Cassius and other "terrified school kids" fled into nearby bushland. It was there that Brearley caught up with him, the trial heard, before the teen was knocked to the ground and hit in the head with a metal pole. Cassius was struck at least twice, the impact splitting his ear in half and causing bleeding in his brain. The attack on Cassius followed a complex series of events that started on October 9 when Forth, Brearley, Gilmore and another man who was tried on lesser charges, Ethan Robert MacKenzie, 21, "snatched two kids off the street" before punching, kicking and stabbing one of them. Four days later, Brearley and his co-accused allegedly armed themselves with metal poles pulled from shopping trolleys before climbing into Palmer's ute and driving off to search for youths before they came across Cassius. In sentencing, Chief Justice Peter Quinlan said the killers had cut Cassius's life short in a horrendous and vengeful act of aggression, violence and brutality. "Cassius Turvey was robbed of his life and of his promise ... all because you killed him, Mr Brearley," he said. Brearley had a complete lack of remorse and had lied throughout the trial, falsely accusing Cassius of knifing him and attempting to blame an innocent man for the killing, Justice Quinlan said. "Mr Brearley, you were the person who killed Cassius Turvey in that fit of rage and brutality," he said. "You went onto that field looking for someone, anyone to inflict serious injury on, and you carried out that intention with unflinching violence. "While you did not intend to kill Cassius Turvey, your attack was persistent and sustained and only stopped by the arrival of Mr Palmer." Palmer and Forth were at the scene and found to have a common purpose. The five defendants variously faced 20 charges over the events of October 9 and 13. The jury found them guilty of all except Gilmore's murder charge and a theft charge faced by Brearley. Gilmore was sentenced to one year and three months, conditionally suspended for 24 months. MacKenzie received two years and six months and will be eligible for parole in November. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 A murdered Indigenous teenager's heartbroken mother has expressed her fury at his killers after two of his assailants were handed life sentences. Cassius Turvey, a Noongar Yamatji boy, died in hospital 10 days after he was deliberately struck to the head in Perth's eastern suburbs on October 13, 2022. Jack Steven James Brearley, 24, and Brodie Lee Palmer, 30, were convicted in May of murdering the 15-year-old after a 12-week trial. They were each sentenced on Friday to life imprisonment, with Brearley eligible for parole after serving 22 years and Palmer after serving 18 years. Mitchell Colin Forth, 27, who also stood trial in the West Australian Supreme Court for the murder of Cassius and was found guilty of manslaughter, was sentenced to 12 years. He will be eligible for parole after serving 10 years. Cassius's mother, Mechelle Turvey, said she was satisfied with the sentences handed to the three men as she vented her frustration and anger over the death of her son. "I wish I was a bit younger and had better knees so I could have jumped that f**king dock," she said outside the court on Friday. "They're all freaking monsters. "No mother should have to visit the grave of a 15-year-old innocent child who did absolutely nothing." The sentences were met with applause from dozens of supporters inside the court, while verbal abuse was directed at the killers. "First thing that come to mind after Jack Brearley was sentenced was how he said my son had learned his lesson after he had bashed him in the bush," Ms Turvey said. "He learned a life lesson now." Aleesha Louise Gilmore, 23, also stood trial but was acquitted of a murder charge. Cassius was with fellow students who caught a bus to parklands to watch a fight being talked about on social media. Brearley, Forth and Palmer intercepted them near the field and Cassius and other "terrified school kids" fled into nearby bushland. It was there that Brearley caught up with him, the trial heard, before the teen was knocked to the ground and hit in the head with a metal pole. Cassius was struck at least twice, the impact splitting his ear in half and causing bleeding in his brain. The attack on Cassius followed a complex series of events that started on October 9 when Forth, Brearley, Gilmore and another man who was tried on lesser charges, Ethan Robert MacKenzie, 21, "snatched two kids off the street" before punching, kicking and stabbing one of them. Four days later, Brearley and his co-accused allegedly armed themselves with metal poles pulled from shopping trolleys before climbing into Palmer's ute and driving off to search for youths before they came across Cassius. In sentencing, Chief Justice Peter Quinlan said the killers had cut Cassius's life short in a horrendous and vengeful act of aggression, violence and brutality. "Cassius Turvey was robbed of his life and of his promise ... all because you killed him, Mr Brearley," he said. Brearley had a complete lack of remorse and had lied throughout the trial, falsely accusing Cassius of knifing him and attempting to blame an innocent man for the killing, Justice Quinlan said. "Mr Brearley, you were the person who killed Cassius Turvey in that fit of rage and brutality," he said. "You went onto that field looking for someone, anyone to inflict serious injury on, and you carried out that intention with unflinching violence. "While you did not intend to kill Cassius Turvey, your attack was persistent and sustained and only stopped by the arrival of Mr Palmer." Palmer and Forth were at the scene and found to have a common purpose. The five defendants variously faced 20 charges over the events of October 9 and 13. The jury found them guilty of all except Gilmore's murder charge and a theft charge faced by Brearley. Gilmore was sentenced to one year and three months, conditionally suspended for 24 months. MacKenzie received two years and six months and will be eligible for parole in November. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 A murdered Indigenous teenager's heartbroken mother has expressed her fury at his killers after two of his assailants were handed life sentences. Cassius Turvey, a Noongar Yamatji boy, died in hospital 10 days after he was deliberately struck to the head in Perth's eastern suburbs on October 13, 2022. Jack Steven James Brearley, 24, and Brodie Lee Palmer, 30, were convicted in May of murdering the 15-year-old after a 12-week trial. They were each sentenced on Friday to life imprisonment, with Brearley eligible for parole after serving 22 years and Palmer after serving 18 years. Mitchell Colin Forth, 27, who also stood trial in the West Australian Supreme Court for the murder of Cassius and was found guilty of manslaughter, was sentenced to 12 years. He will be eligible for parole after serving 10 years. Cassius's mother, Mechelle Turvey, said she was satisfied with the sentences handed to the three men as she vented her frustration and anger over the death of her son. "I wish I was a bit younger and had better knees so I could have jumped that f**king dock," she said outside the court on Friday. "They're all freaking monsters. "No mother should have to visit the grave of a 15-year-old innocent child who did absolutely nothing." The sentences were met with applause from dozens of supporters inside the court, while verbal abuse was directed at the killers. "First thing that come to mind after Jack Brearley was sentenced was how he said my son had learned his lesson after he had bashed him in the bush," Ms Turvey said. "He learned a life lesson now." Aleesha Louise Gilmore, 23, also stood trial but was acquitted of a murder charge. Cassius was with fellow students who caught a bus to parklands to watch a fight being talked about on social media. Brearley, Forth and Palmer intercepted them near the field and Cassius and other "terrified school kids" fled into nearby bushland. It was there that Brearley caught up with him, the trial heard, before the teen was knocked to the ground and hit in the head with a metal pole. Cassius was struck at least twice, the impact splitting his ear in half and causing bleeding in his brain. The attack on Cassius followed a complex series of events that started on October 9 when Forth, Brearley, Gilmore and another man who was tried on lesser charges, Ethan Robert MacKenzie, 21, "snatched two kids off the street" before punching, kicking and stabbing one of them. Four days later, Brearley and his co-accused allegedly armed themselves with metal poles pulled from shopping trolleys before climbing into Palmer's ute and driving off to search for youths before they came across Cassius. In sentencing, Chief Justice Peter Quinlan said the killers had cut Cassius's life short in a horrendous and vengeful act of aggression, violence and brutality. "Cassius Turvey was robbed of his life and of his promise ... all because you killed him, Mr Brearley," he said. Brearley had a complete lack of remorse and had lied throughout the trial, falsely accusing Cassius of knifing him and attempting to blame an innocent man for the killing, Justice Quinlan said. "Mr Brearley, you were the person who killed Cassius Turvey in that fit of rage and brutality," he said. "You went onto that field looking for someone, anyone to inflict serious injury on, and you carried out that intention with unflinching violence. "While you did not intend to kill Cassius Turvey, your attack was persistent and sustained and only stopped by the arrival of Mr Palmer." Palmer and Forth were at the scene and found to have a common purpose. The five defendants variously faced 20 charges over the events of October 9 and 13. The jury found them guilty of all except Gilmore's murder charge and a theft charge faced by Brearley. Gilmore was sentenced to one year and three months, conditionally suspended for 24 months. MacKenzie received two years and six months and will be eligible for parole in November. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 A murdered Indigenous teenager's heartbroken mother has expressed her fury at his killers after two of his assailants were handed life sentences. Cassius Turvey, a Noongar Yamatji boy, died in hospital 10 days after he was deliberately struck to the head in Perth's eastern suburbs on October 13, 2022. Jack Steven James Brearley, 24, and Brodie Lee Palmer, 30, were convicted in May of murdering the 15-year-old after a 12-week trial. They were each sentenced on Friday to life imprisonment, with Brearley eligible for parole after serving 22 years and Palmer after serving 18 years. Mitchell Colin Forth, 27, who also stood trial in the West Australian Supreme Court for the murder of Cassius and was found guilty of manslaughter, was sentenced to 12 years. He will be eligible for parole after serving 10 years. Cassius's mother, Mechelle Turvey, said she was satisfied with the sentences handed to the three men as she vented her frustration and anger over the death of her son. "I wish I was a bit younger and had better knees so I could have jumped that f**king dock," she said outside the court on Friday. "They're all freaking monsters. "No mother should have to visit the grave of a 15-year-old innocent child who did absolutely nothing." The sentences were met with applause from dozens of supporters inside the court, while verbal abuse was directed at the killers. "First thing that come to mind after Jack Brearley was sentenced was how he said my son had learned his lesson after he had bashed him in the bush," Ms Turvey said. "He learned a life lesson now." Aleesha Louise Gilmore, 23, also stood trial but was acquitted of a murder charge. Cassius was with fellow students who caught a bus to parklands to watch a fight being talked about on social media. Brearley, Forth and Palmer intercepted them near the field and Cassius and other "terrified school kids" fled into nearby bushland. It was there that Brearley caught up with him, the trial heard, before the teen was knocked to the ground and hit in the head with a metal pole. Cassius was struck at least twice, the impact splitting his ear in half and causing bleeding in his brain. The attack on Cassius followed a complex series of events that started on October 9 when Forth, Brearley, Gilmore and another man who was tried on lesser charges, Ethan Robert MacKenzie, 21, "snatched two kids off the street" before punching, kicking and stabbing one of them. Four days later, Brearley and his co-accused allegedly armed themselves with metal poles pulled from shopping trolleys before climbing into Palmer's ute and driving off to search for youths before they came across Cassius. In sentencing, Chief Justice Peter Quinlan said the killers had cut Cassius's life short in a horrendous and vengeful act of aggression, violence and brutality. "Cassius Turvey was robbed of his life and of his promise ... all because you killed him, Mr Brearley," he said. Brearley had a complete lack of remorse and had lied throughout the trial, falsely accusing Cassius of knifing him and attempting to blame an innocent man for the killing, Justice Quinlan said. "Mr Brearley, you were the person who killed Cassius Turvey in that fit of rage and brutality," he said. "You went onto that field looking for someone, anyone to inflict serious injury on, and you carried out that intention with unflinching violence. "While you did not intend to kill Cassius Turvey, your attack was persistent and sustained and only stopped by the arrival of Mr Palmer." Palmer and Forth were at the scene and found to have a common purpose. The five defendants variously faced 20 charges over the events of October 9 and 13. The jury found them guilty of all except Gilmore's murder charge and a theft charge faced by Brearley. Gilmore was sentenced to one year and three months, conditionally suspended for 24 months. MacKenzie received two years and six months and will be eligible for parole in November. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14
SBS Australia
27-06-2025
- Politics
- SBS Australia
Two men sentenced to life in prison for killing Cassius Turvey
Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts . TRANSCRIPT Two men sentenced to life in prison for killing Aboriginal schoolboy Cassius Turvey Liberal Party MPs divided on the use of gender quotas to boost female representation in the party In cricket, Australia and the West Indies evenly poised after day two of the first test Three men have been sentenced over the killing of Aboriginal schoolboy Cassius Turvey in Western Australia's Supreme Court. The 15-year-old Noongar-Yamatji boy, died in hospital 10 days after he was chased into bushland and beaten to death in October 2022. Jack Brearley has been sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum period without parole of 22 years. Brodie Palmer has also been sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum non-parole period of at least 18 years, and Mitchell Forth has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for his part in Cassius's death. Earlier, Justice Peter Quinlan told the court Cassius Turvey showed great promise from a young age, and was a natural-born leader with a sense of community that pointed to a bright future. He said the 15-year-old boy was robbed of his life and future promise in an act of brutality. In the courtroom, Cassius's mother Mechelle Turvey struggled to hold back tears as Justice Quinlan handed down the sentences. Senior Liberal MP Angus Taylor says he doesn't agree with his party's leader on the use of gender quotas to increase female representation in the Liberal Party. The Liberal Party had its worst election result in 80 years in May. Federal Liberal Leader Sussan Ley used her National Press Club speech this week to say it is time for the party to get serious about having more women within the party's ranks, and she is open to gender quotas being used to achieve that goal. The Liberal Party has six women among its 28 MPs Mr Taylor says he doesn't believe gender quotas are the way to go. "I have dealt with this issue in many organisations that I have been involved with over the years. I have learnt in the fullness of time in other organisations is the key is to have the right attraction processes, retention processes and most importantly mentoring processes - to attract, retain, excite and motivate great people. That is what we have to do." The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission says regulation of unsafe products in online marketplaces will be a focus for the regulator over the next 12 months. Speaking at the National Consumer Congress in Melbourne, the chair of the commission, Gina Cass-Gottlieb, says education and enforcement tools will be used to highlight the risks to consumers in the digital economy. She told SBS, the harm to consumers is multi-faceted. And in cricket, Australia's bowlers have hit back after a slow start to bowl out West Indies for 190 on Day Two of the first Test in Barbados. The visitors' fortunes changed after the controversial dismissals of the hosts' key batters Roston Chase and Shai Hope. In the second session, five wickets fell for just 55 with Beau Webster taking 2 for 20. Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins followed up with multiple wickets, while Nathan Lyon took the last one of the innings. Starc says overall he was pleased with the bowlers' performance. "They obviously had a partnership in the middle there and played pretty well. But overall, I think it's an indifferent wicket. So throughout the two days, it's shown that if you bowl the right areas for long enough, there's enough chances. Even when the ball got a little bit older, or got changed again, the ball still did some sideways stuff. So, I think the bowlers have been in the game throughout the two days and will no doubt continue tomorrow."
9 News
27-06-2025
- 9 News
Indigenous teen Cassius Turvey's murderers sentenced to life in prison
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Warning: This story contains the name and images of a deceased Indigenous person. A man who chased an Indigenous teenager into bushland and violently murdered him with a metal pole has been sentenced to life behind bars. Cassius Turvey, a Noongar Yamatji boy, died in hospital 10 days after he was deliberately struck to the head in Perth's eastern suburbs on October 13, 2022. Jack Steven James Brearley, 24, and Brodie Lee Palmer, 30, were convicted in May of murdering the 15-year-old after a 12-week trial. A note is seen in memory of Cassius Turvey on October 31, 2022 in Perth. (Getty) They were each sentenced on Friday to life imprisonment, with Brearley eligible for parole in October 2044 and Palmer in January 2041. Mitchell Colin Forth, 27, who was also on trial in the West Australian Supreme Court for Cassius's murder and found guilty of manslaughter, was sentenced to 12 years, eligible for parole in January 2033. Chief Justice Peter Quinlan said the killers had cut Cassius's life short in a horrendous and vengeful act of aggression, violence and brutality. "Cassius Turvey was robbed of his life and of his promise ... all because you killed him, Mr Brearley," he said. Brearley had a complete lack of remorse and had lied throughout the trial while giving evidence, falsely accusing Cassius of knifing him and attempting to blame an innocent man for the killing, Justice Quinlan said. "Mr Brearley, you were the person who killed Cassius Turvey in that fit of rage and brutality," he said. "While you did not intend to kill Cassius Turvey, your attack was persistent and sustained and only stopped by the arrival of Mr Palmer." Noongar teenager Cassius Turvey died after allegedly being beaten while walking home from school. (Supplied) Justice Quinlan said Palmer had failed to accept responsibility for his crimes and there were few mitigating factors to reduce his sentence. "You do not have the benefit of a plea of guilty ... and you do not have the benefit of good character," he said. Justice Quinlan said Forth was never the main offender in the shameful course of events but always there in the background. "You were just following along in the excitement of trying to be a tough guy," he said. "And you followed Mr Brearley all the way to a conviction for manslaughter." Brearley delivered the fatal blows on Cassius while "hunting for kids" because somebody had smashed his car windows. He chased Cassius into bushland and knocked the teen to the ground and hit him in the head with a metal pole, causing bleeding in his brain that led to his death. Palmer and Forth were at the scene and found to have a common purpose. For 24/7 crisis support run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, contact 13YARN (13 92 76). Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyond blue on 1300 22 4636. courts crime murder jail Perth Western Australia CONTACT US
The Advertiser
27-06-2025
- The Advertiser
Indigenous teen 'robbed of life' as killers face jail
A murdered Indigenous teenager who was chased into bushland and beaten to death was robbed of his life and promise in an act of brutality, a judge says. Cassius Turvey, a Noongar Yamatji boy, died in hospital 10 days after he was deliberately struck to the head in Perth's eastern suburbs on October 13, 2022. Jack Steven James Brearley, 24, and Brodie Lee Palmer, 30, were convicted in May of murdering the 15-year-old after a 12-week trial. Mitchell Colin Forth, 27, who was also on trial in the West Australian Supreme Court for Cassius's murder, was found guilty of manslaughter. Chief Justice Peter Quinlan said the teenage victim showed great promise from a young age and was a natural-born leader with a sense of community that pointed to a bright future. "Cassius Turvey was robbed of his life and of his promise ... all because you killed him Mr Brearley," he said on Friday as he delivered his sentencing remarks. "You cut short Cassius Turvey's life in an act of aggression, violence and brutality, which, regardless of the sentences I impose today, can never be made right. "You too are responsible for his death, Mr Palmer and Mr Forth, in different ways." Justice Quinlan also addressed claims the attack on Cassius was racially motivated, saying the killers used racial slurs to refer to him and other children he was with. It was no surprise that an attack by a group of non-Indigenous adult men on a group of predominantly Aboriginal children using racial slurs that resulted in a boy's death would have been interpreted as racially driven, he said. "That fear is real and it is legitimate," Justice Quinlan said. But the convicted killers were not monsters, rather they were humans informed by their life histories who had committed horrendous crimes, the judge said. He also noted how the case had revealed the disturbing normalisation of violence in the community. The victim's mother, Mechelle Turvey, earlier said her son was a gentle giant who was unjustly taken from his family and his death "left a void that will never be filled". The trial heard Brearley delivered the fatal blows while "hunting for kids" because somebody had smashed his car windows. Forth and Palmer were accused of aiding him in the common purpose, along with Aleesha Louise Gilmore, 23, who was acquitted of a murder charge. The attack on Cassius followed a complex series of events that started on October 9 when Forth, Brearley, Gilmore and another man allegedly "snatched two kids off the street" before punching, kicking and stabbing one of them. Four days later, Brearley and his co-accused allegedly armed themselves with metal poles pulled from shopping trolleys before climbing into Palmer's ute and driving off to search for some youths. About the same time, Cassius and a group of about 20 fellow students caught a bus to the same area to watch a fight being talked about on social media. Brearley, Forth and Palmer intercepted them near a field, and Cassius and some other "terrified school kids" fled into bushland. It was there that Brearley caught up with him before the teen was knocked to the ground and hit in the head with a metal pole, causing bleeding in his brain. Justice Quinlan is due to deliver the sentences later on Friday. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 A murdered Indigenous teenager who was chased into bushland and beaten to death was robbed of his life and promise in an act of brutality, a judge says. Cassius Turvey, a Noongar Yamatji boy, died in hospital 10 days after he was deliberately struck to the head in Perth's eastern suburbs on October 13, 2022. Jack Steven James Brearley, 24, and Brodie Lee Palmer, 30, were convicted in May of murdering the 15-year-old after a 12-week trial. Mitchell Colin Forth, 27, who was also on trial in the West Australian Supreme Court for Cassius's murder, was found guilty of manslaughter. Chief Justice Peter Quinlan said the teenage victim showed great promise from a young age and was a natural-born leader with a sense of community that pointed to a bright future. "Cassius Turvey was robbed of his life and of his promise ... all because you killed him Mr Brearley," he said on Friday as he delivered his sentencing remarks. "You cut short Cassius Turvey's life in an act of aggression, violence and brutality, which, regardless of the sentences I impose today, can never be made right. "You too are responsible for his death, Mr Palmer and Mr Forth, in different ways." Justice Quinlan also addressed claims the attack on Cassius was racially motivated, saying the killers used racial slurs to refer to him and other children he was with. It was no surprise that an attack by a group of non-Indigenous adult men on a group of predominantly Aboriginal children using racial slurs that resulted in a boy's death would have been interpreted as racially driven, he said. "That fear is real and it is legitimate," Justice Quinlan said. But the convicted killers were not monsters, rather they were humans informed by their life histories who had committed horrendous crimes, the judge said. He also noted how the case had revealed the disturbing normalisation of violence in the community. The victim's mother, Mechelle Turvey, earlier said her son was a gentle giant who was unjustly taken from his family and his death "left a void that will never be filled". The trial heard Brearley delivered the fatal blows while "hunting for kids" because somebody had smashed his car windows. Forth and Palmer were accused of aiding him in the common purpose, along with Aleesha Louise Gilmore, 23, who was acquitted of a murder charge. The attack on Cassius followed a complex series of events that started on October 9 when Forth, Brearley, Gilmore and another man allegedly "snatched two kids off the street" before punching, kicking and stabbing one of them. Four days later, Brearley and his co-accused allegedly armed themselves with metal poles pulled from shopping trolleys before climbing into Palmer's ute and driving off to search for some youths. About the same time, Cassius and a group of about 20 fellow students caught a bus to the same area to watch a fight being talked about on social media. Brearley, Forth and Palmer intercepted them near a field, and Cassius and some other "terrified school kids" fled into bushland. It was there that Brearley caught up with him before the teen was knocked to the ground and hit in the head with a metal pole, causing bleeding in his brain. Justice Quinlan is due to deliver the sentences later on Friday. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 A murdered Indigenous teenager who was chased into bushland and beaten to death was robbed of his life and promise in an act of brutality, a judge says. Cassius Turvey, a Noongar Yamatji boy, died in hospital 10 days after he was deliberately struck to the head in Perth's eastern suburbs on October 13, 2022. Jack Steven James Brearley, 24, and Brodie Lee Palmer, 30, were convicted in May of murdering the 15-year-old after a 12-week trial. Mitchell Colin Forth, 27, who was also on trial in the West Australian Supreme Court for Cassius's murder, was found guilty of manslaughter. Chief Justice Peter Quinlan said the teenage victim showed great promise from a young age and was a natural-born leader with a sense of community that pointed to a bright future. "Cassius Turvey was robbed of his life and of his promise ... all because you killed him Mr Brearley," he said on Friday as he delivered his sentencing remarks. "You cut short Cassius Turvey's life in an act of aggression, violence and brutality, which, regardless of the sentences I impose today, can never be made right. "You too are responsible for his death, Mr Palmer and Mr Forth, in different ways." Justice Quinlan also addressed claims the attack on Cassius was racially motivated, saying the killers used racial slurs to refer to him and other children he was with. It was no surprise that an attack by a group of non-Indigenous adult men on a group of predominantly Aboriginal children using racial slurs that resulted in a boy's death would have been interpreted as racially driven, he said. "That fear is real and it is legitimate," Justice Quinlan said. But the convicted killers were not monsters, rather they were humans informed by their life histories who had committed horrendous crimes, the judge said. He also noted how the case had revealed the disturbing normalisation of violence in the community. The victim's mother, Mechelle Turvey, earlier said her son was a gentle giant who was unjustly taken from his family and his death "left a void that will never be filled". The trial heard Brearley delivered the fatal blows while "hunting for kids" because somebody had smashed his car windows. Forth and Palmer were accused of aiding him in the common purpose, along with Aleesha Louise Gilmore, 23, who was acquitted of a murder charge. The attack on Cassius followed a complex series of events that started on October 9 when Forth, Brearley, Gilmore and another man allegedly "snatched two kids off the street" before punching, kicking and stabbing one of them. Four days later, Brearley and his co-accused allegedly armed themselves with metal poles pulled from shopping trolleys before climbing into Palmer's ute and driving off to search for some youths. About the same time, Cassius and a group of about 20 fellow students caught a bus to the same area to watch a fight being talked about on social media. Brearley, Forth and Palmer intercepted them near a field, and Cassius and some other "terrified school kids" fled into bushland. It was there that Brearley caught up with him before the teen was knocked to the ground and hit in the head with a metal pole, causing bleeding in his brain. Justice Quinlan is due to deliver the sentences later on Friday. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 A murdered Indigenous teenager who was chased into bushland and beaten to death was robbed of his life and promise in an act of brutality, a judge says. Cassius Turvey, a Noongar Yamatji boy, died in hospital 10 days after he was deliberately struck to the head in Perth's eastern suburbs on October 13, 2022. Jack Steven James Brearley, 24, and Brodie Lee Palmer, 30, were convicted in May of murdering the 15-year-old after a 12-week trial. Mitchell Colin Forth, 27, who was also on trial in the West Australian Supreme Court for Cassius's murder, was found guilty of manslaughter. Chief Justice Peter Quinlan said the teenage victim showed great promise from a young age and was a natural-born leader with a sense of community that pointed to a bright future. "Cassius Turvey was robbed of his life and of his promise ... all because you killed him Mr Brearley," he said on Friday as he delivered his sentencing remarks. "You cut short Cassius Turvey's life in an act of aggression, violence and brutality, which, regardless of the sentences I impose today, can never be made right. "You too are responsible for his death, Mr Palmer and Mr Forth, in different ways." Justice Quinlan also addressed claims the attack on Cassius was racially motivated, saying the killers used racial slurs to refer to him and other children he was with. It was no surprise that an attack by a group of non-Indigenous adult men on a group of predominantly Aboriginal children using racial slurs that resulted in a boy's death would have been interpreted as racially driven, he said. "That fear is real and it is legitimate," Justice Quinlan said. But the convicted killers were not monsters, rather they were humans informed by their life histories who had committed horrendous crimes, the judge said. He also noted how the case had revealed the disturbing normalisation of violence in the community. The victim's mother, Mechelle Turvey, earlier said her son was a gentle giant who was unjustly taken from his family and his death "left a void that will never be filled". The trial heard Brearley delivered the fatal blows while "hunting for kids" because somebody had smashed his car windows. Forth and Palmer were accused of aiding him in the common purpose, along with Aleesha Louise Gilmore, 23, who was acquitted of a murder charge. The attack on Cassius followed a complex series of events that started on October 9 when Forth, Brearley, Gilmore and another man allegedly "snatched two kids off the street" before punching, kicking and stabbing one of them. Four days later, Brearley and his co-accused allegedly armed themselves with metal poles pulled from shopping trolleys before climbing into Palmer's ute and driving off to search for some youths. About the same time, Cassius and a group of about 20 fellow students caught a bus to the same area to watch a fight being talked about on social media. Brearley, Forth and Palmer intercepted them near a field, and Cassius and some other "terrified school kids" fled into bushland. It was there that Brearley caught up with him before the teen was knocked to the ground and hit in the head with a metal pole, causing bleeding in his brain. Justice Quinlan is due to deliver the sentences later on Friday. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14
