Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this story contains an image of a person who is deceased.
Jack Steven James Brearley, 24, is facing trial over the alleged murder of Cassius Turvey, a 15-year-old Noongar Yamatji boy who died ten days after an incident in Perth’s eastern suburbs on October 13, 2022. Brearley claims he did not strike Cassius with a metal pole, contrary to the prosecution’s assertions. Instead, he has shifted responsibility to his co-accused, Brodie Lee Palmer, 29, claiming that Palmer delivered the fatal blows.
During cross-examination, Brearley struggled to maintain his narrative, acknowledging numerous inconsistencies in his defence. He initially stated that he only engaged in a physical altercation with Cassius, who was allegedly wearing a green shirt. However, he later contradicted himself, having previously described the person involved as a "big Kiwi fella" dressed in grey, highlighting a significant discrepancy in his account.
Brearley further claimed he only punched Cassius twice, resulting in a cut above the teenager’s eyebrow. Yet he conceded that multiple witnesses associated with Cassius’s medical care did not document or see such an injury. There were also inconsistencies regarding the location of the encounter, which Brearley initially indicated occurred near a creek.
Christian Porter, Palmer’s lawyer, pointed out that eyewitness testimonies contradicted Brearley’s claims, suggesting that a "skinny man" was responsible for the injuries leading to Cassius’s death. Brearley attempted to dismiss the evidence, insisting it was a problem for the prosecution, but he faced direct challenges to his credibility. During the tense exchange, Porter bluntly accused Brearley, saying, “You are lying through your teeth.”
Brearley’s girlfriend, Aleesha Louise Gilmore, 23, and co-worker Mitchell Colin Forth, 26, are also on trial, charged with murder in connection with Cassius’s death. Prosecutors allege that Brearley, motivated by vandalism to his car, pursued Cassius and deliberately struck him with a metal pole while "hunting for kids". They believe Gilmore, Forth, and Palmer were complicit and aware of Brearley’s intentions before the incident occurred.
For immediate crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, contact 13YARN at 13 92 76. Additional resources include Lifeline at 13 11 14 and beyondblue at 1300 22 4636 for those seeking support.