Premier Anthony Albanese has paid respect to the family of Perth youngster Cassius Turvey, stating that the alleged murder of the Indigenous kid was ‘obviously’ motivated by racism.
Earlier this month in Middle Swan, Cassius Turvey, 15, was allegedly struck with a metal rod while going home from school with friends.
Sunday, he died in the hospital after suffering severe head trauma.
The 21-year-old Jack Steven James Brearley has been charged with his murder and is scheduled to appear in court in Perth next month.
The West Australian police are investigating reports that Cassius was the target of racial remarks, but refuse to speculate on a possible motive.
The prime minister described it as a horrible tragedy on Friday.
Mr. Albanese stated, “This blatantly racially motivated attack tears your heart.”
“We are a greater nation than that, and my heart goes out to the family and friends of the victims.”
Tony Armstrong, an ABC broadcaster, stated that people were hesitant to declare Cassius’ death a racist event and that the tragedy was not “Hollywood enough” for the Australian public and media to care.
On Thursday, he told The Project, “This is a 15-year-old boy who had ambitions, plans, and aspirations; we saw how ecstatic he was when he did his radio piece, and now all of that is gone.”
“It’s not sufficiently Hollywood. It is not sufficiently Hollywood for the Australian public and media to care. People think we’re getting better. Since the emergence of Black Lives Matter, there has been an increase in deaths in custody.
We don’t want to discuss how this is a racial incident because there is never any action.
‘However, it all boils down to the fact that the worth of property has been deemed greater than the life of a 15-year-old black boy.
How do you believe families feel about sending their children away? It’s disgusting and I’m furious. I understand that many mobs are distressed, and my heart goes out to the family.
Lisa Wilkinson, his co-host, questioned why police had minimized the incident by stating that Cassius was at the wrong place at the wrong time.
She stated, “This was a teen in his school uniform strolling down the street in full daylight.”
Where else are you supposed to be besides walking home in your school uniform? Armstrong stated, “My heart is broken, as it is for many others.”
Mark McGowan, the premier of Western Australia, had recommended caution following the dismissal of the jury in the ACT trial of Bruce Lehrmann, the man accused of raping Brittany Higgins in Parliament House in 2019.
The judge presiding over Lehrmann’s trial asked the media to “fall silence” to ensure a fair trial.
Regarding the suspected murder of Cassius, Mr. McGowan remarked, “It’s before the courts, and the courts will resolve these matters.”
You should not intervene in these matters. You have witnessed something occur in the east today in which individuals say or do something they shouldn’t and trials are canceled.
I will not perform that action.
The premier stated that the loss of the teen was incredibly tragic.
I feel so much compassion for the boy’s family. He appeared to be a handsome young boy. Really, what they are going through is unbelievable,’ he said.
Police allege that on October 13, while walking with companions, Cassius was approached by Brearley, who had been a passenger in a pickup truck.
According to the allegations, he pursued the youths before assaulting Cassius with a metal pole.
Four suspects have been identified by detectives, but no additional charges have been filed.
Brearley’s vehicle was damaged a day before the incident, according to the police, but there is no evidence that Cassius was involved.
Possible case of mistaken identity. It might be a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time,’ Perth Police Commissioner Col Blanch said last week on radio station 6PR.
Indigenous leaders have expressed dissatisfaction with the police reaction, stating that the alleged murder has left their people scared and distressed.
Tania Lawrence, a federal representative whose Hasluck constituency contains Middle Swan, informed parliament that there had been an outpouring of sorrow and loss.
She described how Cassius began his own lawn-mowing business and was invited to make an acknowledgement of country before the WA legislature at age 11.
She stated, “He was linked to his neighborhood and ready to take on the world.”
Brearley is scheduled to appear on November 9 in Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court.