Cassius Turvey’s mum thanks Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for calling alleged Perth attack racial
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The mother of an indigenous schoolboy who died after allegedly being struck with a metal stake has thanked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for condemning the attack.
Mechelle Turvey – whose son Cassius (15) died in hospital 10 days after the October 13 attack – was distraught as she gathered on Saturday with hundreds of friends, family and supporters in Perth.
She said Mr Albanian’s comments “were the words the whole country has been waiting for… they are just words, but they mean so much to us.”
Mr Albanian expressed his condolences to the family on Friday, saying the alleged attack was “clearly racially motivated”.
“We are a better country than that, and my heart goes out to the family and friends,” he added.
Mechelle Turvey and Cassius Turvey (pictured together). 15-year-old died after being beaten while walking home from school
Prime Minister Anthony Albanian (pictured) said the alleged attack was ‘clearly racially motivated’
Ms Turvey said the comments showed that the Prime Minister was “in line with our hearts”.
“He (Cassius) is not just my loss, he is everyone’s loss, even people who didn’t know him,” she said. 9News.
“This is the worst thing that could happen, but this (the gathering) is just great, it just brings the community together. This is black and white, you can see the diversity of people here.’
She said she would like to hear similar comments from Western Australia Police Commissioner Col Blanch.
The top state agent previously said Cassius may have been “in the wrong place at the wrong time,” a comment that sparked outrage online.
Ms Turvey (pictured) said she was encouraged by the support she received from the large crowd
Hundreds gathered in Perth Saturday to commemorate Cassius Turvey (pictured)
He told 6PR radio earlier this week that the alleged attack was sparked by a ‘damage incident’ that involved smashing windows.
Host Gareth Parker asked Cmr Blanch if the police had any evidence to suggest that Cassius and his friends were involved in the damage incident.
“At this point in the investigation, we have nothing to suggest that,” he said.
“It could be a case of misidentification. It may be a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but I wouldn’t want anyone in the community jumping to conclusions.”
Some social media users accused Cmr Blanch’s of “victim blaming”, while others said police refused to see the incident for what it is – “clear racism”.
Cassius Turvey (pictured) was reportedly beaten to death with a metal pipe that could have been the handle of a shopping cart when he and three friends were on their way home from school
But one commentator defended the top officer, saying: “He said the police were investigating whether it was a mistaken identity, trying to identify a motive.”
One of the alleged attackers was 21-year-old Jack Steven James Brearley, (pictured) who has since been charged with murder.
Commissioner Blanch insisted that the police were “not operating on the basis of racism or motive” at this time and that investigations were underway.
Cassius was walking home from school in Perth with friends on Oct. 13 when a group of men allegedly chased the boys with a machete and metal pipes.
While his friends took cover in a local TAFE, Cassius was caught by the group and reportedly beaten severely, sustaining serious head injuries in the attack.
The girlfriend of Jack Brearley, the man accused of murdering Cassius, was the alleged driver of the group’s getaway car.
Police claim she was also out on bail on multiple charges.
The woman is said to have been behind the wheel of the black utility company when it pulled up next to the teenagers on Paterson Drive in Middle Swan.
The boys claimed she screamed racist remarks from inside the vehicle before her boyfriend Jack Brearley, 21, allegedly punched Cassius.
Mr Brearley has been charged with murder over the attack and his girlfriend is currently working with WA Police Force, the Western Australian reported.
She will appear before the Perth Magistrates Court next month on unrelated charges, including two counts of common assault, one count of possession of cocaine and one count of attempted aggravated theft.