Nation mourns Cassius Turvey's death on his 'most favourite day'

As half a million dollars is raised for this family, they are "blown away by people’s generosity right around the country and it has been comforting for us as we continue to grieve Cassius."

Cassius Turvey

As half a million dollars is raised for this family, they are "blown away by people’s generosity right around the country and it has been comforting for us as we continue to grieve Cassius."

Candlelight vigils will be held around the country for Noongar boy Cassius Turvey from Monday night after he was allegedly murdered by a man armed with a metal pole, shouting racial slurs.

The Perth organisers have chosen October 31, Halloween, for the Vigil as it was said to be the 15-year-old's "most favourite day of the year". They are urging the community to dress up and have fundraised for lollies to give the children. 

Cassius Turvey.

Greens Senator and Noongar Yamatji woman Dorinda Cox was at the vigil on Monday, supporting the Turvey family as both a representative and mum.

"As a Noongar Yamatji mother it pains me to say that Cassius will be forever 15, due to his life being cut short by this senseless act of violence," Cox told The Oz.

"Our First Nations communities across Australia are in mourning as we collectively feel the grief and loss of another one of our children.

"We deserve the respect and right to the range of emotions that continue to be the legacy of this nation’s cultural genocide. This is the reason myself and Senator [Lidia] Thorpe brought about in the 46th Parliament, the Senate inquiry into missing and murdered First Nations Women and Children, to ensure Cassius’s name is never forgotten and to stop racism from killing the next generation of our strong Blak leaders."

Mechelle Turvey. Picture: Channel 7 News

As hundreds of mourners assembled at Midland’s Weeip Park on Saturday, the boy's mother Mechelle Turvey mother said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's reference to the alleged murder as "racially motivated" was "the words the whole country has been waiting for".

"They're just words but they mean so much to us. It's like you're on the same page as our hearts. Thank you very much."

What happened to Cassius Turvey?

Cassius and his four young friends were walking to the shops after school in Middle Swan on October 13 when a black ute stopped in front of them.

The driver, since identified as a non-Aboriginal local, is alleged to have yelled racial slurs from the driver's seat to the boys in their Swan View High School uniforms.

Two men then allegedly jumped out of the car, used racial slurs, and ran after them, according to the children.

They then allegedly brandished a machete and a metal rod and told the boys to run.

Cassius was the to be first caught and brutally bashed, suffering brain bleeding.

Another 13-year-old boy, who was with Cassius and on crutches at the time, was also caught by the men and beaten, he told relatives. 

He suffered two strokes and was placed in an induced coma, but ultimately died from his injuries 10 days later.

Non-Aboriginal man Jack Brearley, 21, from Middle Swan, was charged with the murder over the fatal roadside beating last week. The metal pole is thought to have been a shopping trolley handle.

He suffered two strokes and was placed in an induced coma before he died.

"Racially motivated" attack

Last week Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Cassius' death was racially motivated.

This attack that was clearly racially motivated just breaks your heart,” he said. “We are a better country than that and my heart goes out to the family and the friends.”

Six Noongar leaders published a joint plea on Friday for the attack to be treated as a hate crime under WA law.

In their statement, issued by the Uniting Church, they said: "We have come together as a Noongar Nation. Let’s make this a fight for all of us, for change. We are hurting, our people are hurting for a long time. We are standing straight and tall, for our children and young people."

Earlier, WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said he did not want anyone to jump to conclusions about whether race was a factor in the attack, angering the Indigenous community. 

“I urge community members to refrain from unfounded speculation regarding this tragic death of a young boy, who was a much-loved family member and friend,” Blanch said in a statement on Wednesday. 

"The justice process needs to be allowed to run its course, as does the ongoing investigation."

He also told 6PR radio it could have been a case of "mistaken identity" or "wrong place at the wrong time".

Half-a-million dollars raised

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

She said on Monday the money would first be spent on the funeral, and would then be used for a “potentially costly legal battle – as our family continues to fight for justice for Cassius".

"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," she said.

She thanked everyone who donated, shared, or offered help.

“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.”

Vigils held around the country

Perth

• October 31, 5.30pm - Midland Oval, 2 Midland Square, Perth.

Broome

• November 2, 6.30pm - Broome Courthouse, Hamersley St
• This event is organised by the community organisation Yawuru.

Sydney

• November 2, 6pm - Sydney Town Hall,  483 George St, Sydney.
• This event is organised by FISTT.

Wollongong

• November 2, 6pm - MacCabe Park, Wollongong. 

Newcastle

• November 2, 6pm - Civic Park, Newcastle.
• This event is organised by Justice Aunties.

Melbourne

• November 2, 6pm - Aboriginal Advancement League, 2 Watt St, Thornbury.

Adelaide

• November 2, 6.30pm -  Victoria Square, Grote St, Adelaide.

Brisbane

• November 2, 7pm - King George Square, 87C Roma St, Brisbane City.
• This event is organised by the Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance.

Darwin

• November 2, 7pm - Rapid Creek Bridge, Casuarina Dr, Rapid Creek.
• This event is organised by the Close Don Dale NOW group. 

Canberra

• November 2, 6pm - The Aboriginal Tent Embassy, Canberra.

Alice Springs

• November 2, 7.30pm - Alice Springs Court House, 10 Parsons St, Alice Springs.
• This event is organised by the Intervention Rollback Action Group (IRAC).

Cairns

• November 2, 7pm - Cairns City Library lawns, 151 Abbott St, Cairns.
• This event is organised by Socialist Alliance FNQ.