The mother of an Indigenous student who allegedly died after being struck with a metal rod has praised Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for condemning the incident.
Mechelle Turvey, whose 15-year-old son Cassius died in the hospital 10 days after the October 13 attack, was inconsolable when she gathered in Perth with hundreds of friends, family, and supporters on Saturday.
She stated that Mr. Albanese’s remarks were “the words the entire nation has been yearning to hear… they are merely words, but they mean so lot to us.”
Mr. Albanese expressed his condolences to the family on Friday and stated that the alleged incident was “obviously motivated by racism.”
He said, “We are a better nation than that, and my heart goes out to the family and friends.”
Ms. Turvey stated that the words demonstrated that the prime minister was “on the same page as our hearts.”
She told 9News, “He (Cassius) is not just my loss; he is everyone’s loss, even those who didn’t know him.”
This is the worst thing that could have happened, but this (the gathering) is fantastic because it brings the community together. This is a diverse group of individuals, as seen by their racial diversity.
She expressed an interest in hearing similar remarks from Western Australia Police Commissioner Col Blanch.
Cassius may have been in the wrong place at the wrong moment, according to the state’s chief of police, a statement that provoked fury online.
He told 6PR radio earlier this week that a ‘damage issue’ involving shattered windows prompted the claimed attack.
Mr Blanch was questioned by host Gareth Parker if there was any evidence that Cassius and his companions were involved in the property damage incident.
He stated, “At this juncture in the investigation, we have no evidence to imply that.”
Possible case of mistaken identity. It’s possible that I was at the wrong place at the wrong moment, but I wouldn’t want the community to jump to conclusions.
Some social media users accused Cmr Blanch’s of ‘victim blaming,’ while others claimed that police refused to recognize the act for what it is: ‘obvious racism.’
One commentator, however, backed the chief of police, stating, “He was suggesting that the police were investigating the possibility of mistaken identity in order to determine a motive.”
Commissioner Blanch stated that police were not currently “working on any racist principles or intentions” and that investigations were ongoing.
On October 13 in Perth, while coming home from school with pals, a group of guys allegedly chased the boys with a machete and metal pipes.
While his friends sought refuge in a local TAFE, Cassius was allegedly found by the mob and savagely beaten, suffering major head injuries in the attack.
The group’s escape vehicle was allegedly driven by the fiancée of Jack Brearley, the man accused of killing Cassius.
The police claim that she was also out on bail for multiple counts of assault.
It is believed that the woman was driving the black utility vehicle when it drew up behind the kids on Paterson Drive in Middle Swan.
The lads asserted that she hurled racist obscenities from the car before her boyfriend, Jack Brearley, 21, allegedly beat Cassius.
The West Australian reports that Mr. Brearley has been charged with murder in connection with the attack and that his girlfriend is presently collaborating with WA Police.
She is scheduled to appear in Perth Magistrates Court next month on charges unrelated to each other, including two counts of common assault, one act of cocaine possession, and one case of attempted aggravated robbery.