Two men and a woman have faced Perth Magistrates Court charged with murder over the bashing death of Indigenous teenager Cassius Turvey.

January 20, 2023

The mother of slain Indigenous teenager Cassius Turvey says seeing three people accused of her son’s bashing murder in court took her back to the day he was attacked.

Mechelle Turvey said her son’s description of the assault with a metal pole before he died gave her strength on Friday when two men and a woman appeared in Perth Magistrates Court.

“It took me back to the day when it happened … to when Cassius described the incident and what they looked like,” she told reporters outside court.

“At least I had something under my belt to bring today to give me strength.

“This is just one step forward to justice for Cassius (and) it’s also one step forward for all of our healing, all of his family.”

The 15-year-old died in hospital 10 days after the alleged assault while he walked home from school with friends in Middle Swan on October 13 last year.

Ms Turvey said she learned Brodie Lee Palmer, 27, Mitchell Colin Forth, 24, and Aleesha Louise Gilmore, 20, had been charged on Thursday.

Palmer and Forth appeared in the court, while Gilmore was called by magistrate Sarah Oliver by telephone.

Asked if she understood the charge, Gilmore said “yeah but” before being interrupted by Ms Oliver and told not to speak about her alleged offence.

Gilmore said she had been in hospital and had not yet spoken to a lawyer.

Palmer’s lawyer, Seamus Rafferty, said his client would likely plead not guilty to the charge.

Forth did not speak, but nodded when the magistrate asked if he understood the charge.

Jack Steven James Brearley, 21, is already before the courts on a murder charge over the Noongar Yamatji boy’s death.

It’s alleged the trio was with Brearley when he attacked the teen, who suffered serious head injuries.

Palmer and Forth were remanded in custody, with all three scheduled to reappear in court on March 29, when Brearley is also expected to reappear.

The death of Cassius triggered an outpouring of grief and anger across the nation, with some Indigenous leaders condemning the alleged attack as cowardly and racist.

More than a dozen family and supporters accompanied Ms Turvey to court, with some holding a placard outside court saying “Remembering Cassius”.

“This is not just about a court date guys, this is everyday for us mob,” she said as her voice broke.

“We stick together as a family and as friends and as a community.”

Cassius has been remembered as a loving son and a role model to his friends. He had started his own lawn mowing business and was invited at age 11 to deliver an acknowledgement of country at the WA parliament.