Narelda Jacobs breaks down in tears on Studio 10 over alleged murder of Cassius Turvey

Narelda Jacobs has delivered an emotional plea for the end of racially motivated violence after the alleged murder of schoolboy Cassius Turvey.

WARNING for First Nations readers: This story contains an image of a deceased person.

Studio 10 star Narelda Jacobs spoke through tears on Monday while reporting on the alleged murder of schoolboy and beloved community member Cassius Turvey, 15, who died on October 23rd after suffering severe head injuries from a metal pipe.

Jacobs, a proud Whadjuk Noongar woman from Perth, revealed she shared a family connection to the late teen, and was stricken with grief as she spoke about the vigils being held around the country in his honour.

Making an impassioned plea for Australians to stand up against racially motivated violence, her heartache was apparent as she called out Channel 7 and Channel 9 directly for a lack of coverage surrounding Cassius’s death, urging them to join the discussion and “give a voice to the pain”.

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Narelda Jacobs in tears over Cassius Turvey's death.

“Seeing those pictures from home, that’s all my family,” Jacobs began, her voice quavering.

“Around the country we are feeling this so deeply … I cannot tell you enough how important the vigils will be this week. We will be seeing people turning out in record numbers across Australia, because we want an end to violence, we want an end to the alleged racism that allegedly murdered Cassius, and we need allies to stand up,” she said through tears.

“Australians have had enough of this, and we’re going to be standing in solidarity with Cassius’ family, who is also my family, so please turn out.”

Jacobs went on to explain that her daughter Jade, who is based in Perth in the Boorloo community, was asked by Cassius’ family to paint his coffin in a gathering of his grieving friends and family members. In her post, Jacobs referred to Cassius as her cousin.

She said Jade and her cousin Elijah performed a smoking ceremony to “tell any bad spirits that were lingering to leave and to welcome the good spirits in to sit with the coffin and be there for Cassius as he joins the ancestors”.

Tearing up again, Jacobs went on to urge Channel 7 and Channel 9 to up their coverage as vigils for Cassius continue across Australia this week.

Narelda Jacobs in tears over Cassius Turvey's death

“As Tony Armstrong said on The Project last week, where has the mainstream media been in Australia?

“This is going viral on social media, people are sharing Cassius’ beautiful face and we are saying enough to racist violence in this country.

“Where has Channel 7 and Channel 9 been, I’m just calling them out, you need to come and you need to give a voice to the pain, you have been completely absent in this whole conversation,” she said.

Posting the clip of her Studio 10 address on Instagram, Jacobs wrote: “I made these comments yesterday on @studio10au feeling so far from home, knowing the Boorloo/Perth community would be gathering within hours for their vigil for Cassius.

“The pull to be with my moort/family to grieve my beautiful cousin Cassius has been strong.

“But family & community is everywhere. & we’ll be showing up around Australia & overseas tomorrow.”

Jacobs’ emotional address comes after ABC News Breakfast presenter Tony Armstrong gave his own tribute to Cassius on The Project, lashing out over the lack of media attention of Cassius’s story and calling for the alleged attack to be referred to as a racially motivated incident.

“We don’t want to talk about how this is a racial incident, but ultimately when it’s all boiled down to, the value of property has been deemed more than the life of a 15-year-old black kid,” he said.

Tony Armstrong delivered a powerful tribute to Cassius on The Project last week.

 
“What kind of a joint are we living in? What kind of backwater are we living in if that’s the case?”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s proclamation last Friday that the fatal attack on Cassius was “clearly racially motivated” came as welcome news for the Perth boy’s mum.

“It’s the words the country has been waiting for,” Noongar-Yamatji woman Mechelle Turvey told mourners at a vigil on the weekend.

“It’s like you’re on the same page as our hearts.”

Weekend vigils are being planned in honour of Perth teenager Cassius Turvey. Two weeks after the shocking alleged attack that claimed his life, emotions are still incredibly raw.

A warning to First Nations viewers, this story contains images of the deceased.#TheProjectTVpic.twitter.com/SmluBV4tnA

— The Project (@theprojecttv) October 27, 2022

Mr Albanese told media on Friday: “This attack, that clearly is racially motivated, just breaks your heart.”

“We are a better country than that, and my heart goes out to the family and friends.”

Cassius and his friends had just stepped off a bus and were walking along Patterson Drive in Middle Swan about 4.30pm on October 13 when a black Ford Ranger utility allegedly pulled up next to them.

A Middle Swan man has been charged with murder over the death of 15-year-old Aboriginal boy Cassius Turvey, who died after an alleged vicious beating in Midland on October 13.

Police said Jack Steven James Brearley, 21, exited the vehicle and ran towards them, allegedly bashing Cassius with a metal pole. He died in hospital 10 days later after suffering severe head injuries.

A GoFundMe page set up by his cousin Michelle Wighton has raised more than $503,000 from more than 12,000 individual donations.

“To every single person that has donated to our fundraiser, shared it and offered help – thank you,” she wrote on Monday.

“Our family has been blown away by people’s generosity right around the country and it has been comforting for us as we continue to grieve Cassius.

“For anyone wishing to show further support, we invite you to attend one of the vigils or rallies, taking place right around the country, calling for justice for Cassius.”

Ms Wighton said the money would initially be used for the funeral and funeral-related expenses.

“In addition, they will be put towards legal costs – and a potentially costly legal battle – as our family continues to fight for justice for Cassius,” she said.

“Finally, any additional funds will be used to support local youth and to give back to the local community where Cassius lived and grew up, and this will be done in Cassius’ name.”