Murder trial begins for Perth schoolboy Cassius Turvey who was allegedly beaten by a group of adults

Four people are on trial over the alleged murder of Perth schoolboy Cassius Turvey who died in hospital after he was allegedly beaten by a group of adults.

A man accused of fatally striking a schoolboy in the head was “out hunting kids with a metal pole,” a court has been told.

The trial of four people in their 20s charged with the alleged murder of Perth schoolboy Cassius Turvey has begun in the WA Supreme Court.

Cassius, 15, was walking with a group of friends in Middle Swan, in Perth’s east, when he was allegedly beaten by a group of 20-something adults on October 13, 2022.

Cassius died in hospital 10 days later.

A murder trial over the death of Perth schoolboy Cassius Turvey has begun in the WA Supreme Court.

Four people have been charged with his murder but pleaded not guilty including Jack Brearley, 23, Aleesha Gilmore, 23, Mitchell Forth, 26 and Brodie Palmer, 29.

Mr Brearley, Ms Gilmore, Mr Forth and another man Ethan McKenzie, 21, are also accused of assaulting two other teenage boys depriving them of their liberty days before Cassius was allegedly attacked.

Chief Justice Peter Quinlan told the jury to expect a long trial that will go for about 10 weeks, with more than 50 witnesses, many of them children, expected to give evidence.

State Prosecutor Benjamin Stanwix told the court during his opening address how Cassius came to be murdered was remarkable and the result of a series of complex events.

Mr Stanwix told the court Cassius was set upon by a group of people he did not know over petty grievances that did not involve him.

The prosecutor said Cassius was chased down by the group, caught, knocked to the ground and was deliberately struck with a metal pole.

He said the blow split Cassius’ ear in half and caused bleeding on his brain.

State Prosecutor Benjamin Stanwix told the court during his opening address how Cassius Turvey came to be murdered was remarkable and the result of a series of complex events.

The jury heard how in the weeks before Cassius was allegedly murdered, Ms Gilmore’s 14-year-old brother had started seeing a girl which led to friction with another boy.

Mr Stanwix said the friction was over young teenagers dating for a matter of days and led to incidents where four of the accused detained two teenage boys against their will.

The state alleges Ms Gilmore, Mr Brearley, Mr McKenzie and Mr Forth drove around trying to find the boys involved in the friction with Ms Gilmore’s brother, but set upon two other boys that were not involved.

Lawyer Christian Porter arrives at the WA District Court building to defend one of the co-accused Brodie Palmer, 29, who is charged with the murder of Cassius Turvey. Picture: NewsWire / Philip Gostelow

The state alleges Mr McKenzie threatened one of the boys with a knife and demanded he get in Ms Gilmore’s car.

It is alleged the accused chased down another 15-year-old boy who was assaulted by Mr Brearley, Mr McKenzie and Mr Forth.

The court was told a witness will give evidence three adults punched, kicked and booted a 15-year-old boy while he was on the ground.
It is also alleged the boy was stabbed by Mr McKenzie with a knife that was later recovered in his bedroom by police.

State Prosecutor Stanwix said the series of events that occurred days before Cassius’ alleged murdered was chapter one of the story.

“The love triangle, the almost mobbing of (Ms Gilmore’s brother), the snatching of two children off the street and the stabbing of (one),” he said.

“Chapter two happens three days later in retaliation of a group of school kids who went to the Mockridge Circuit home and smashed the windows of (Mr Brearley’s) Kia.”

The court was told how a group of schoolchildren went to the home where Ms Gilmore and Mr Brearley lived and smashed Mr Brearley’s car windows, which led to “tit for tat” retaliation.

Cassius Turvey’s mother Mechelle Turvey arrives at the WA District Court supported by family members. Picture: NewsWire/Philip Gostelow

The state alleged the accused chased other boys in a car who were not involved in the incident and a boy whose mother worked with Ms Gilmore at a childcare facility.

The state alleges Mr Brearley phoned Ms Gilmore at work demanding she ask the boy’s mother for money to pay for the damage to his car.

Mr Stanwix said Ms Gilmore confronted the woman aggressively at work in front of other staff and children, and was fired over the incident the following day.

“They attacked two boys who did not do anything then a third boy demanding Ms Gilmore demand money from his mother,” he said.

“Tit for tat.

“So far some very dangerous things had been done but without anyone getting seriously hurt but that all changed the following day when Cassius was struck to the head with a metal pole.”

State Prosecutor Ben Stanwix told the court one of the accused Jack Brearley was out hunting kids with a metal pole. Picture: NewsWire/Philip Gostelow

On October 13, 2022, Ms Gilmore’s brothers contacted her about fights that were planned that afternoon and people threatening to damage their house if they did not turn up.

The state alleges Ms Gilmore told the accused group who were at Mr Palmer’s house and they drove away “intent on violence towards whoever was coming to the house” armed with knuckle dusters and metal poles.

The state alleges the group got into Mr Palmer’s car and Mr Brearley could be heard saying on CCTV, “Somebody smashed my car, they’re about to die.”

Mr Stanwix told the court the group drove around looking for school kids when they came across a group of about 19 children.

Defence lawyer David Jones will defend Ethan McKenzie who is charged with assault and deprivation of liberty. Picture: NewsWire/Philip Gostelow

Mr Palmer pulled up on a verge and some of the children ran towards bushland and a creek, while a few others ran down a street to get away from the accused.

Mr Stanwix told the court Mr Brearley approached Cassius and struck him with a metal pole twice, which resulted in fatal injuries.

Cassius died in hospital from complications 10 days after he was allegedly hit by Mr Brearley

Mr Brearley allegedly told Ms Gilmore’s mother later that day, “I was just smacking him with the trolley pole so hard, he just learnt his fate.”

“It was a vengeful act of vigilante violence,” Mr Stanwix said.

“Mr Brearley was going out hunting kids with a metal pole.”

The trial continues.

Originally published as Murder trial begins for Perth schoolboy Cassius Turvey who was allegedly beaten by a group of adults