In a harrowing case unfolding in the West Australian Supreme Court, a man accused of murdering 15-year-old Indigenous boy Cassius Turvey has confessed that he attempted to frame an innocent individual for the crime. Turvey, who was of Noongar Yamatji descent, succumbed to his injuries ten days after being violently attacked on October 13, 2022, in Perth. Prosecutors allege he was pursued, struck down, and deliberately hit on the head with a metal pole.
Three individuals—Aleesha Louise Gilmore, her boyfriend Jack Steven James Brearley, and their associates Brodie Lee Palmer and Mitchell Colin Forth—are currently on trial for Turvey’s murder. During cross-examinations, Brearley acknowledged that he had identified a neighbour as a possible suspect, despite being aware that Turvey had died. This evidence points to his intent to misdirect the police investigation, with Brearley admitting he was motivated to protect himself and his friends from the repercussions of the incident.
Prosecutor Ben Stanwix confronted Brearley about the gravity of attempting to frame an innocent person for the murder of a child, to which Brearley’s ignorance of the term “despicable” was noted, claiming he did not understand its meaning. Despite being guided on the concept of moral reprehension, Brearley insisted he did not find his actions objectionable.
The inquiry brought to light that Brearley implicated a man of similar height and build to himself, who had been in the vicinity during the attack, leading to suggestions that this was a calculated move to divert attention from himself. Moreover, Brearley admitted that he and another accused, Palmer, had rehearsed the details of the attack shortly after it occurred, with the incident being captured on CCTV footage.
While Brearley maintained he did not deliver the fatal blows to Turvey, he acknowledged that he engaged in a physical altercation with the teenager after being reportedly attacked with a knife. He also conceded that he, Palmer, and Forth had gathered weapons prior to the confrontation while searching for a group of youths they believed had threatened their home.
This tragic case underscores the severe implications of gang violence and raises significant concerns about systemic issues affecting Indigenous communities, as the prosecution continues to unravel the events surrounding Cassius Turvey’s tragic death.