Two Men Sentenced to Life for Murder of Aboriginal Teen Cassius Turvey

Two men, Jack Brearley and Brodie Palmer, have been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of 15-year-old Aboriginal boy Cassius Turvey, whose brutal attack in Perth in October 2022 shocked the nation. The sentencing, which occurred on Friday, follows a series of nationwide protests and vigils highlighting concerns about systemic racism in Australia. Brearley and Palmer pursued Turvey, ultimately fatally assaulting him with a metal pole, as Justice Peter Quinlan described their actions as "callous and lacking in empathy." A third defendant, Mitchell Forth, received a 12-year manslaughter sentence connected to the violent behavior of the group, which had been "hunting for kids."

Justice Quinlan revealed the attackers showed no remorse, condemning their actions and indicating a lack of accountability. In his remarks, he emphasized that Turvey was innocent and a victim of a misguided sense of vigilante justice. Although Justice Quinlan did not directly link the attack to racial motivations, he acknowledged the racial slurs during the incident created a lasting sense of fear within the Aboriginal community. The case has drawn renewed attention to the struggles faced by Indigenous people in Australia, as Cassius' mother expressed the profound impact of the loss on her family's future. The proceedings represent a pivotal moment in Australia’s acknowledgment of violence against Indigenous individuals and the urgent need for societal change.