Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains names and images of deceased individuals.
In a tragic case unfolding in the Western Australian Supreme Court, the murder trial of 15-year-old Noongar Yamatji boy Cassius Turvey is currently underway. Cassius died ten days after a violent incident on October 13, 2022, where he was allegedly pursued by two men armed with metal poles in Perth’s eastern suburbs. Prosecutors allege that he was knocked down and struck intentionally, leading to severe injuries.
The accused include Aleesha Louise Gilmore, 23, her partner Jack Steven James Brearley, 23, and two associates, Brodie Lee Palmer, 29, and Mitchell Colin Forth, 26. During the trial, a witness testified about an initial bus ride taken by Cassius and other teenagers to an area near a TAFE college, motivated by discussions of an impending fight. Shortly after their arrival, a black utility vehicle approached, occupied by a woman and three men.
Tensions escalated when someone in the group accused the teenagers of vandalising their vehicle. Following the confrontation, the men returned in the ute, and the witness reported that they were armed with long poles. She described the men—one particularly muscular and two others lean—as they pursued the teenagers, who fled into nearby bushland.
Amidst the chaos, Cassius emerged, visibly injured and bleeding from his head, crying in distress. The prosecution has stated that Brearley, driven by anger over vandalised car windows and threats communicated via social media, attacked Cassius with a metal pole, striking him multiple times. This assault resulted in severe wounds, including a split ear and a lacerated forehead.
The prosecutor, Ben Stanwix, noted that Brearley’s aggressive actions were fuelled by a desire for retribution regarding previous incidents dating back to October 9, where allegations arose of the accused detaining and physically assaulting two other adolescents. These events seem to be part of an escalating cycle of violence, sparked by a "love triangle" involving a younger relative of Gilmore and ongoing disputes propagated through social media.
Witness accounts detail Brearley expressing pride in his violent conduct, allegedly stating that he intended to teach Cassius a lesson. The trial continues, aiming to establish the circumstances surrounding Cassius’s tragic demise and the culpability of those involved in the violent altercation.