Anthony Albanese says death of Indigenous boy Cassius Turvey ‘clearly’ racially motivated
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to the family of Perth teenager Cassius Turvey, saying the alleged murder of the Indigenous boy was “clearly” racially motivated.
Cassius Turvey (15) is said to have been struck with a metal pole earlier this month as he walked home from school with friends in Middle Swan.
He suffered serious head injuries and died in hospital on Sunday.
Cassius Turvey (pictured) was allegedly clubbed to death with a metal pipe on Oct. 13 as he and three friends were on their way home from school
Anthony Albanese said on Friday that Cassius’ death was a terrible tragedy and that the alleged attacker was “clearly” racially motivated.
Jack Steven James Brearley, 21, has been charged with murder and is due to appear in court in Perth next month.
Western Australian police are investigating allegations of racist remarks against Cassius, but have declined to speculate on a possible motive.
The prime minister spoke of a terrible tragedy on Friday.
“This attack which is clearly racially motivated just breaks your heart,” Mr Albanese said.
“We’re a better country than that, and my heart goes out to the family and friends.”
ABC presenter Tony Armstrong said people were reluctant to call Cassius’ death a racist incident and that the tragedy was not “Hollywood enough” for the Australian public or the media.
“This is a 15-year-old boy, he had dreams and hopes and aspirations, we saw how excited he was doing his radio piece, that’s gone,” he told The Project on Thursday.
“It’s not Hollywood enough. It’s not Hollywood enough for the Australian public and the Australian media. People think we’re getting better. The number of deaths in custody has risen since Black Lives Matter took place.
“There is never any action, there is only talk and in the end we don’t want to talk about how this is a racist incident.
“But in the end it all comes down to the value of property being considered higher than the life of a 15-year-old black boy.
‘How do you think families feel when they send their children out? It’s disgusting and I’m really angry. I know a lot of mobs are angry and my heart goes out to the family.”
Cassius (pictured) suffered serious head injuries and spent five days in hospital before being discharged. However, just hours after he left, he suffered a seizure and two strokes and was rushed back. He then died on Sunday, 10 days after he was attacked
His co-host Lisa Wilkinson wondered why police minimized the incident by saying Cassius was “in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“This was a teenager in his school uniform, in broad daylight, walking down a street,” she said.
‘Where else are you supposed to be than walking home in your school supplies? My heart is broken, like many people’s,” Armstrong said.
Western Australia Prime Minister Mark McGowan previously urged caution after a jury was dismissed in the ACT trial of Bruce Lehrmann, the man accused of raping Brittany Higgins in Parliament House in 2019.
The judge overseeing that trial warned the media to “keep quiet” to ensure Lehrmann could receive a fair trial.
“It’s up to the courts, courts will decide these things,” Mr McGowan said of the alleged murder of Cassius.
Western Australian Prime Minister Mark McGowan said on Friday that he felt for Cassius’ family and said the 15-year-old Perth teenager had looked like a ‘pretty little boy’
‘You don’t want to interfere here. You’ve seen something happen today in the East, where people say or do something they shouldn’t, and trials are ceasing.
Jack Steven James Brearley, 21, (pictured) has been charged with murder and is due to appear before Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on Nov.
“I’m not going to do that.”
The prime minister said the teen’s death was extremely sad.
“I just feel a lot for that little boy’s family. He looked like a beautiful little boy. They go through a lot and it’s really unimaginable,” he said.
Police say Cassius was walking with friends on Oct. 13 when they were approached by Brearley, who had been a passenger in a ute.
He is said to have chased the youths before attacking Cassius with a metal stake.
Detectives have identified four people they believe were in the ute, but no other charges have been filed.
Police said Brearley’s vehicle was damaged a day before the attack, but there is no suggestion Cassius was involved.
“It could be a case of misidentification. It could be a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Police Commissioner Col Blanch told Perth radio 6PR this week.
While Cassius’ friends were hiding in a nearby TAFE, the 15-year-old was reportedly caught by the group violently attacking him (photo, Cassius Turvey)
Aboriginal leaders have expressed frustration at the police response, saying the alleged killing has left indigenous peoples anxious and saddened.
Federal MP Tania Lawrence, whose Hasluck electorate also includes Middle Swan, told parliament there had been an outpouring of grief and sorrow.
She told how Cassius started his own lawn mowing business and was invited at the age of 11 to give a country statement in the WA parliament.
“He was connected to his community and he was ready to take on the world,” she said.
Brearley is due to appear before Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on Nov. 9.