A prosecutor in the trial of four individuals accused of murdering Perth schoolboy Cassius Turvey has stated that there is “no evidence” to suggest his alleged killing was racially motivated.
Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers should be aware this article contains an image of a deceased person, shared with the family’s permission.
Meanwhile, the defense attorney for one of the accused argued that his client did not cause Cassius Turvey’s fatal injuries, claiming the boy had slashed his client in the leg after being handed a knife.
Jack Brearley, Aleesha Gilmore (both 23), Brodie Palmer (29), and Mitchell Forth (26) are on trial for the October 2022 murder of 15-year-old Cassius. All of the accused have pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutor Ben Stanwix SC told the WA Supreme Court that the teenager’s death resulted from a sequence of events unrelated to Cassius himself, describing the murder as the result of “a vengeful act of vigilante violence.”
No Racial Motivation
At the conclusion of his opening remarks, Mr. Stanwix emphasized that the killing was not racially motivated. He explained that while some had speculated that race was a factor, no evidence had supported that claim.
Instead, he argued that the motive could be understood by focusing on words allegedly spoken by Jack Brearley, who reportedly said, “somebody smashed my car windows, they’re about to die,” following damage to his vehicle.
Brearley’s lawyer, Simon Watters, similarly asserted that the case had nothing to do with race or skin color, calling those who suggested otherwise “misinformed, ill-advised, and misguided.” Watters maintained that Brearley was not the one who struck Cassius Turvey with the metal pole, but rather co-accused Brodie Palmer was responsible for delivering the fatal blows.
Cassius Armed with a Knife?
The court was informed that Brearley did chase Cassius into nearby bushland, but Brearley’s defense suggested that Cassius was armed with a knife, which he used to slash Brearley’s leg multiple times.
Watters argued that after Brearley punched the boy in the eyebrow, he witnessed Palmer hit Cassius three times with the pole. Brearley allegedly shouted at Palmer to stop.
Further evidence suggested that when the group returned to Brearley’s home, Palmer threatened Brearley and Gilmore, warning them that if they spoke about the incident, they would end up “dead” and “in body bags.”
Watters emphasized that this account — which Brearley allegedly relayed to police the following day — was the core of the defense’s argument. He also revealed that Brearley was likely to testify in his own defense once the defense case began.
“A Cowardly Act”
In his opening address, Brodie Palmer’s lawyer, Christian Porter, criticized Brearley for allegedly attempting to shift blame onto Palmer for the fatal injuries, describing it as an act of cowardice.
“He is pointing the finger at his former friend to save himself,” Porter stated, describing Brearley as a “thug, a bully, and a coward.”
While Porter acknowledged that Palmer’s actions on the day were “utterly appalling,” he insisted that Palmer did not strike Cassius. Instead, Porter argued that Brearley’s actions were driven by “misguided revenge” and “white-hot rage.”
Porter admitted that Palmer had lied during police interviews but assured the court that Palmer would testify and provide a full account of the events that transpired that day.