The mother of murdered Indigenous teen Cassius Turvey said that witnessing the three suspects accused of her son’s murder during a court appearance brought back memories of the day he was assaulted.
When two men and a woman appeared before Perth Magistrates Court on Friday, Mechelle Turvey said her son’s account of the assault with a metal pole before he passed away gave her courage.
She told reporters outside the court, “It took me back to the day when it happened, to when Cassius described the occurrence and what they looked like.
At least I was prepared with something to bring today, which gave me courage.
“This is simply one step toward bringing Cassius’s case to justice, and it’s also one step toward our collective recovery and that of his family as a whole.”
Ten days after the alleged assault, which occurred on October 13, 2013, while the 15-year-old was walking home from school with pals in Middle Swan, he passed away in the hospital.
Aleesha Louise Gilmore, 20, Mitchell Colin Forth, and Brodie Lee Palmer, 27, were charged on Thursday, according to Turvey.
Palmer and Forth showed up in court, and magistrate Sarah Oliver called Gilmore on the phone.
Gilmore said “sure but” when asked if she understood the allegation before Oliver interrupted her and warned her not to talk about the alleged offense.
Gilmore claimed that despite being in the hospital, she had not yet consulted a lawyer.
Palmer’s attorney, Seamus Rafferty, predicted that his client will most certainly reject the accusation.
When the magistrate questioned Forth about whether he understood the charge, he remained silent but nodded.
A murder case against Jack Steven James Brearley, 21, stemming from the death of the Noongar Yamatji kid, is already pending in court.
Brearley allegedly attacked the teen while the trio was present, causing severe head injuries.
Palmer and Forth were remanded in custody, and on March 29 Brearley is anticipated to make a court appearance as well.
A nationwide outpouring of grief and rage at Cassius’ passing resulted, with some Indigenous leaders denouncing the alleged attack as cowardly and racist.
More than a dozen family members and allies came to support Ms. Turvey in court, and some of them held a sign outside the building that read, “Remembering Cassius.”
She continued as her voice trembled, “This is not just about a court date, this is every day for us mob.
“As a family, as friends, and as a community, we stick together.”
It has been said that Cassius was a devoted son who served as an example to his friends. In the age of 11, he received an invitation to make an Acknowledgement of Country at the WA parliament after starting his own lawn-mowing business.
