Teen found 'lying covered in blood', murder trial told
Share this @internewscast.com

Warning: This story contains the name and images of a deceased Indigenous person.

A man accused of murdering an Indigenous teenager allegedly stomped on the boy and witnessed his co-accused attack him with a metal pole, a court has been told.

Cassius Turvey, a 15-year-old Noongar Yamatji boy, died in hospital 10 days after prosecutors say he was chased into bushland, knocked to the ground and “deliberately struck to the head” in Perth‘s eastern suburbs on October 13, 2022.

Aleesha Louise Gilmore, 23, her then-boyfriend Jack Steven James Brearley, 24, and his mates, Brodie Lee Palmer, 29, and Mitchell Colin Forth, 26, are on trial in the West Australian Supreme Court for Cassius’ murder.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 31: A note is seen in memory of Cassius Turvey on October 31, 2022 in Perth, Australia. Cassius Turvey, 15, died in a Perth hospital last Sunday after he was violently assaulted in Middle Swan. Turvey was walking in the area with friends when he was assaulted. His death has triggered a wave of outrage across Australia, with many vigils and memorials taking place in several cities demanding justice. (Photo by Matt Jelonek/Getty Images)
A note is seen in memory of Cassius Turvey on October 31, 2022 in Perth. (Getty)

Prosecutors previously said Brearley delivered the fatal blows while he was “hunting for kids” because somebody had smashed his car windows and alleged Forth, Palmer and Gilmore helped him and knew his intent before the incident.

But on Thursday, prosecutor Tracy Tan challenged Palmer’s evidence he wasn’t at the scene when Cassius was struck and that he offered to help the teen after he was injured.

“You were holding a pole at the time you ran into the bush?” Tan said.

Cassius Turvey died in hospital 10 days after prosecutors say he was chased into bushland, knocked to the ground and "deliberately struck to the head" in Perth's eastern suburbs.
Cassius Turvey died in hospital 10 days after prosecutors say he was chased into bushland, knocked to the ground and “deliberately struck to the head” in Perth’s eastern suburbs. (Supplied)

Palmer replied: “No, that’s incorrect.”

Tan: “You saw Jack with a pole too, hitting Cassius?”

“And you then kicked Cassius yourself at least once … or stomped on him … or you were otherwise close enough to strike him while Jack was striking him?” Tan said. 

Palmer said that was “incorrect”.

Brearley has denied hitting Cassius with a pole, claiming he only punched him after the teen knifed him and Palmer struck the fatal blows, which he also denies.

Palmer previously told the jury he was “full of piss” and waited in his ute near the bushland after Brearley ran into it with a pole in a “show of force” to deter a group of young people coming to Gilmore’s home.

He said he later heard Brearley yelling for help, saying he had been stabbed and he walked into the bush where he found Brearley standing over Cassius yelling, but he saw no pole.

“When I seen the kid he was lying on the floor covered in blood,” he said on Thursday, as Tan tested his evidence.

“I asked (Cassius) if he was alright. I asked him if he knew what day it was and I asked him if he was able to walk back to friends.”

Palmer agreed with Tan he had seen Brearley swing a metal pole at other teens, who were with Cassius before he was allegedly attacked, but said he was not aware Brearley “would go as far as he did”.

Tan also probed Palmer about his methylamphetamine use, which he has admitted.

Palmer agreed the drug made some people more aggressive and violent but denied he was using it on the day Cassius was injured.

The trial has heard that after Cassius was allegedly assaulted, the four accused drove to Gilmore’s nearby home, where Brearley attended to his knife wounds and Forth allegedly armed himself with a baseball bat and a pole, and said: “Let’s go back there and f*** everyone one of them up.”

Palmer agreed he would have driven the group “somewhere with weapons to hurt kids”.

“We were angry,” he said.

But he said he wasn’t sure what would have happened if he had, recalling that a fight broke out between Brearley and Gilmore and she self-harmed and they instead drove her to hospital.

For 24/7 crisis support run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, contact 13YARN (13 92 76).

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Tragic Case of Child Malnutrition: Kids Forced to Scavenge for Food at School Before Fatal Consequences, Prosecutors Reveal

Background: A section of the 2200 block of Aiken Street in Baltimore,…

Long Island Man Sentenced for Gruesome 6-Hour Torture Leading to Friend’s Death

A Long Island resident, Jeremy Allen, received a life sentence without the…

Second Suspect Apprehended in Oaks Mall Incident Involving Self-Defense Shooting

Reported by Staff GAINESVILLE, Fla. – An 18-year-old Newberry resident, Vontrell Deshune…

Federal Judge Slams Alina Habba’s Former Office for 72 Court Violations, Orders Immediate Release from Unlawful Detention

Left: Alina Habba walks off stage after speaking before Republican presidential nominee…

New Legislation Enforces Life Sentences for Violent Crimes Committed by Victorian Teens

Victorian teenagers who commit violent crimes could face life imprisonment from today…

Foiled Plot: Perth’s Multiple Locations Targeted in Alleged Terrorist Plan

A 20-year-old man has been charged after allegedly planning a terrorist attack…

Authorities Report Mother Responsible for Newborn Found Deceased in Pond

Background: Pine Island Pond in Manchester, New Hampshire (WMUR-TV/YouTube). Inset: Hepay Juma…

Tragic 2023 Accident: Melrose Man Faces Negligent Homicide Charges in Starke Woman’s Death

Staff Report MELROSE, Fla. – In a tragic turn of events, Brandon…

Chilling Plot Unveiled: The Farm Ambush – How a Brutal Assault Led to a Deadly Retribution

Background: The area near the Wind River Reservation in Riverton, Wyo. (Google…

Missing for 24 Years: Woman Found and Arrested on Outstanding Warrant Just Days After Reunion

After vanishing without a trace 24 years ago, Michele Hundley Smith has…

Tragic Carjacking at Burger King: Kids Thrown from SUV as Mom Retrieves Missing Fries

Insets (clockwise from top left): Alexis Kearney and Antonio Alexander (Shelby County…

Urgent Search: Savannah Guthrie Offers $1M Reward for Missing Mom, Anonymous Tips Encouraged

“Today” show host Savannah Guthrie announced that a cash reward is being…