Two men, Jack Brearley and Brodie Palmer, have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of 15-year-old Cassius Turvey, an Aboriginal schoolboy, in a case that shocked Australia. Cassius died from head injuries after a violent assault in October 2022 on the outskirts of Perth, igniting nationwide protests and discussions about persistent racism in the country.
During the courtroom sentencing, Justice Peter Quinlan described the two men as "callous and lacking in empathy," highlighting the brutal nature of their actions where they chased and savagely beat Cassius with a metal pole. The assaults were reportedly part of a vigilante attack unrelated to Cassius himself. In total, three men were implicated in the violence, and a fourth, Ethan MacKenzie, received a two-and-a-half-year sentence for his role in other assaults.
In her emotional victim impact statement, Cassius' mother Mechelle Turvey expressed her devastation, stating, "Cassius was not just part of my life; he was my future." Although the court did not classify the attack as racially motivated, Justice Quinlan acknowledged that the use of racial slurs created fear within the Aboriginal community.
Palmer is eligible for parole in January 2041, whereas Brearley may seek parole from October 2044, marking a continued dialogue on justice and racism in Australia following this tragic event.
