Cassius Turvey murder trial jury retires to deliberate verdicts
A jury has started deliberating in a trial for four people accused of murdering an Indigenous teenager after he was allegedly attacked with a metal pole.
Cassius Turvey, a 15-year-old Noongar Yamatji boy, died in hospital 10 days after prosecutors say he was chased down, knocked to the ground and 'deliberately struck to the head' in Perth's eastern suburbs on October 13, 2022.
Aleesha Louise Gilmore, 23, her then-boyfriend Jack Steven James Brearley, 24, and his mates, Brodie Lee Palmer, 29, and Mitchell Colin Forth, 26, are on trial in the WA Supreme Court for Cassius' murder.
Prosecutors allege Brearley delivered the fatal blows while 'hunting for kids' because somebody had smashed his car windows and allege Forth and Palmer aided him, and, along with Gilmore, had a common purpose.
Brearley denies he struck Cassius with a pole, saying he only punched him after the teen knifed him and that Palmer struck the fatal blows – which Palmer denies.
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The trial that started in early February has been told the alleged attack on Cassius in bushland was 'the end point of a complex series of events that had absolutely nothing to do with him'.
Prosecutor Ben Stanwix told the jury it was a 'tit-for-tat escalation' and Brearley and Forth had later used a car as a weapon and chased down two boys, hitting one of them.
The following day, Gilmore's brothers warned that a group of teens could be coming to their family home, where Brearley also lived, looking for a fight.
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The Advertiser
18 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'Truly tragic': woman killed and mother loses unborn baby in horrific crash
Two lives have been lost and many others irreparably damaged after a "horrible" car accident in Newcastle in the early hours of Sunday morning. The crash occurred at 2.40am on Sunday at North Lambton when a white Holden Commodore, allegedly driven by a 19-year-old male, veered onto the wrong side of the dual carriageway of Newcastle Road while travelling west and trying to evade police. The Commodore then collided with a white Hyundai sedan that was travelling east near the Arthur Street intersection. The passenger of the Hyundai, a 55-year-old Indian woman who arrived in Australia only last week to visit family, died in the crash. The 28-year-old female driver of the Hyundai, who was 26 weeks pregnant, sustained serious leg injuries in the two-car crash. The pregnant woman also lost her baby in the crash and is in a serious condition at the John Hunter Hospital. It is alleged that the 19-year-old male driver of the Commodore and a 17-year-old female passenger, who is the registered owner of the vehicle, fled the scene on foot following the crash. Two girls aged 15 and 17 were in the backseat of the Commodore and were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital under police guard. Northern Region Commander, acting assistant commissioner Paul Dunstan, said it was a "horrible incident." "What's occurred is truly tragic," he said. "Two women driving around innocently. "One has lost their life; one has lost their unborn child." The crash caused the closure of Newcastle Road eastbound between the Jesmond roundabout and the Croudace Street intersection for the majority of Sunday morning. Assistant commissioner Dunstan said an officer on a motorcycle initially attempted to engage with the Commodore on Newcastle Road when it was noticed to have an incorrect licence plate. The officer followed the sedan for 30 seconds and then turned on its sirens and lights, which caused the Commodore to veer onto the wrong side of Newcastle Road. At that point, it was deemed unsafe to pursue the vehicle. Three to four minutes later, a police car spotted the Commodore on Newcastle Road at the intersection with Croudace Street. "Once again, that vehicle took off on the wrong side of the dual carriageway, travelling against the line of traffic," assistant commissioner Dunstan said. "A short time later, police became aware that the Commodore collided with a Hyundai sedan travelling on Newcastle Road." Assistant commissioner Dunstan said the 19-year-old driver is known to police. He is described as being of Indigenous descent, of medium build, 165 centimetres tall and approximately 65 kilograms. Teenage joyrides and dangerous late-night driving have been a growing concern for police in Newcastle over the past year. "I must emphasise that this is not a stolen vehicle at this stage," assistant commissioner Dunstan said. "It has not been reported, and we don't believe it's a stolen vehicle. "Joyriding and driving in a dangerous manner are always real concerns for us here in the Newcastle area." A critical incident team from Hunter Valley Police District is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. The investigation will be reviewed by the Professional Standards Command and overseen by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC). "The incident has been determined a critical incident, with independent police investigating what has occurred," assistant commissioner Dunstan said. "That investigation will be subject to oversight from the law enforcement conduct commission and the police professional standards command." Two lives have been lost and many others irreparably damaged after a "horrible" car accident in Newcastle in the early hours of Sunday morning. The crash occurred at 2.40am on Sunday at North Lambton when a white Holden Commodore, allegedly driven by a 19-year-old male, veered onto the wrong side of the dual carriageway of Newcastle Road while travelling west and trying to evade police. The Commodore then collided with a white Hyundai sedan that was travelling east near the Arthur Street intersection. The passenger of the Hyundai, a 55-year-old Indian woman who arrived in Australia only last week to visit family, died in the crash. The 28-year-old female driver of the Hyundai, who was 26 weeks pregnant, sustained serious leg injuries in the two-car crash. The pregnant woman also lost her baby in the crash and is in a serious condition at the John Hunter Hospital. It is alleged that the 19-year-old male driver of the Commodore and a 17-year-old female passenger, who is the registered owner of the vehicle, fled the scene on foot following the crash. Two girls aged 15 and 17 were in the backseat of the Commodore and were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital under police guard. Northern Region Commander, acting assistant commissioner Paul Dunstan, said it was a "horrible incident." "What's occurred is truly tragic," he said. "Two women driving around innocently. "One has lost their life; one has lost their unborn child." The crash caused the closure of Newcastle Road eastbound between the Jesmond roundabout and the Croudace Street intersection for the majority of Sunday morning. Assistant commissioner Dunstan said an officer on a motorcycle initially attempted to engage with the Commodore on Newcastle Road when it was noticed to have an incorrect licence plate. The officer followed the sedan for 30 seconds and then turned on its sirens and lights, which caused the Commodore to veer onto the wrong side of Newcastle Road. At that point, it was deemed unsafe to pursue the vehicle. Three to four minutes later, a police car spotted the Commodore on Newcastle Road at the intersection with Croudace Street. "Once again, that vehicle took off on the wrong side of the dual carriageway, travelling against the line of traffic," assistant commissioner Dunstan said. "A short time later, police became aware that the Commodore collided with a Hyundai sedan travelling on Newcastle Road." Assistant commissioner Dunstan said the 19-year-old driver is known to police. He is described as being of Indigenous descent, of medium build, 165 centimetres tall and approximately 65 kilograms. Teenage joyrides and dangerous late-night driving have been a growing concern for police in Newcastle over the past year. "I must emphasise that this is not a stolen vehicle at this stage," assistant commissioner Dunstan said. "It has not been reported, and we don't believe it's a stolen vehicle. "Joyriding and driving in a dangerous manner are always real concerns for us here in the Newcastle area." A critical incident team from Hunter Valley Police District is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. The investigation will be reviewed by the Professional Standards Command and overseen by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC). "The incident has been determined a critical incident, with independent police investigating what has occurred," assistant commissioner Dunstan said. "That investigation will be subject to oversight from the law enforcement conduct commission and the police professional standards command." Two lives have been lost and many others irreparably damaged after a "horrible" car accident in Newcastle in the early hours of Sunday morning. The crash occurred at 2.40am on Sunday at North Lambton when a white Holden Commodore, allegedly driven by a 19-year-old male, veered onto the wrong side of the dual carriageway of Newcastle Road while travelling west and trying to evade police. The Commodore then collided with a white Hyundai sedan that was travelling east near the Arthur Street intersection. The passenger of the Hyundai, a 55-year-old Indian woman who arrived in Australia only last week to visit family, died in the crash. The 28-year-old female driver of the Hyundai, who was 26 weeks pregnant, sustained serious leg injuries in the two-car crash. The pregnant woman also lost her baby in the crash and is in a serious condition at the John Hunter Hospital. It is alleged that the 19-year-old male driver of the Commodore and a 17-year-old female passenger, who is the registered owner of the vehicle, fled the scene on foot following the crash. Two girls aged 15 and 17 were in the backseat of the Commodore and were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital under police guard. Northern Region Commander, acting assistant commissioner Paul Dunstan, said it was a "horrible incident." "What's occurred is truly tragic," he said. "Two women driving around innocently. "One has lost their life; one has lost their unborn child." The crash caused the closure of Newcastle Road eastbound between the Jesmond roundabout and the Croudace Street intersection for the majority of Sunday morning. Assistant commissioner Dunstan said an officer on a motorcycle initially attempted to engage with the Commodore on Newcastle Road when it was noticed to have an incorrect licence plate. The officer followed the sedan for 30 seconds and then turned on its sirens and lights, which caused the Commodore to veer onto the wrong side of Newcastle Road. At that point, it was deemed unsafe to pursue the vehicle. Three to four minutes later, a police car spotted the Commodore on Newcastle Road at the intersection with Croudace Street. "Once again, that vehicle took off on the wrong side of the dual carriageway, travelling against the line of traffic," assistant commissioner Dunstan said. "A short time later, police became aware that the Commodore collided with a Hyundai sedan travelling on Newcastle Road." Assistant commissioner Dunstan said the 19-year-old driver is known to police. He is described as being of Indigenous descent, of medium build, 165 centimetres tall and approximately 65 kilograms. Teenage joyrides and dangerous late-night driving have been a growing concern for police in Newcastle over the past year. "I must emphasise that this is not a stolen vehicle at this stage," assistant commissioner Dunstan said. "It has not been reported, and we don't believe it's a stolen vehicle. "Joyriding and driving in a dangerous manner are always real concerns for us here in the Newcastle area." A critical incident team from Hunter Valley Police District is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. The investigation will be reviewed by the Professional Standards Command and overseen by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC). "The incident has been determined a critical incident, with independent police investigating what has occurred," assistant commissioner Dunstan said. "That investigation will be subject to oversight from the law enforcement conduct commission and the police professional standards command." Two lives have been lost and many others irreparably damaged after a "horrible" car accident in Newcastle in the early hours of Sunday morning. The crash occurred at 2.40am on Sunday at North Lambton when a white Holden Commodore, allegedly driven by a 19-year-old male, veered onto the wrong side of the dual carriageway of Newcastle Road while travelling west and trying to evade police. The Commodore then collided with a white Hyundai sedan that was travelling east near the Arthur Street intersection. The passenger of the Hyundai, a 55-year-old Indian woman who arrived in Australia only last week to visit family, died in the crash. The 28-year-old female driver of the Hyundai, who was 26 weeks pregnant, sustained serious leg injuries in the two-car crash. The pregnant woman also lost her baby in the crash and is in a serious condition at the John Hunter Hospital. It is alleged that the 19-year-old male driver of the Commodore and a 17-year-old female passenger, who is the registered owner of the vehicle, fled the scene on foot following the crash. Two girls aged 15 and 17 were in the backseat of the Commodore and were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital under police guard. Northern Region Commander, acting assistant commissioner Paul Dunstan, said it was a "horrible incident." "What's occurred is truly tragic," he said. "Two women driving around innocently. "One has lost their life; one has lost their unborn child." The crash caused the closure of Newcastle Road eastbound between the Jesmond roundabout and the Croudace Street intersection for the majority of Sunday morning. Assistant commissioner Dunstan said an officer on a motorcycle initially attempted to engage with the Commodore on Newcastle Road when it was noticed to have an incorrect licence plate. The officer followed the sedan for 30 seconds and then turned on its sirens and lights, which caused the Commodore to veer onto the wrong side of Newcastle Road. At that point, it was deemed unsafe to pursue the vehicle. Three to four minutes later, a police car spotted the Commodore on Newcastle Road at the intersection with Croudace Street. "Once again, that vehicle took off on the wrong side of the dual carriageway, travelling against the line of traffic," assistant commissioner Dunstan said. "A short time later, police became aware that the Commodore collided with a Hyundai sedan travelling on Newcastle Road." Assistant commissioner Dunstan said the 19-year-old driver is known to police. He is described as being of Indigenous descent, of medium build, 165 centimetres tall and approximately 65 kilograms. Teenage joyrides and dangerous late-night driving have been a growing concern for police in Newcastle over the past year. "I must emphasise that this is not a stolen vehicle at this stage," assistant commissioner Dunstan said. "It has not been reported, and we don't believe it's a stolen vehicle. "Joyriding and driving in a dangerous manner are always real concerns for us here in the Newcastle area." A critical incident team from Hunter Valley Police District is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. The investigation will be reviewed by the Professional Standards Command and overseen by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC). "The incident has been determined a critical incident, with independent police investigating what has occurred," assistant commissioner Dunstan said. "That investigation will be subject to oversight from the law enforcement conduct commission and the police professional standards command."
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
Grandfather pens letter to PM after death in custody
The grandfather of a 24-year-old man who died in custody has drafted an open letter to the prime minister calling on Canberra to step in and address "madness" in the Northern Territory's justice system. The senior Warlpiri leader and kin of Kumanjayi White, who died after being forcibly restrained by two plain clothes officers inside a supermarket in Alice Springs in May, said justice in the Territory was "in crisis". "Your government in Canberra has total power over the NT," Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, a Yuendumu man, wrote. "The prisons are so full they need private security guards; guards on buses and public housing officers are being given guns - this madness must stop." The letter addressed to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese landed ahead of protests in Sydney and Alice Springs on Saturday to demand justice for Mr White. The senior Indigenous leader renewed his call for an independent investigation into the death of his grandson. The family has also been calling for the release of CCTV footage and for the officers involved to be stood down while the investigation takes place. Federal minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, backs an independent inquiry but despite broad support, the NT government has rejected the proposal, saying NT Police are best-placed to investigate the death. Police allege Mr White, who had a mental disability and was in care, was shoplifting and assaulted a security guard. In his letter, Mr Hargraves demanded immediate action from the Commonwealth, including withholding funding to the NT government until it agreed to an independent probe. "You used this power to take away all our rights, our jobs and our assets with the NT Intervention 18 years ago today," he said. "Now we demand action from Canberra to see that our rights are restored and we are protected from the racist Country Liberal Party government." Speaking ahead of a meeting of the Joint Council on Closing the Gap in Darwin on Friday, Senator McCarthy said deaths in custody had to end and the federal government was deeply concerned about the issue. The Yuendumu community also lost 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker in 2019 when he was shot by then-NT police officer Zachary Rolfe during a botched arrest. Mr Rolfe was found not guilty of all charges over the death in 2022. Protesters in Sydney gathered to respond to a policing conference involving the former police officer but the first responders event has since been cancelled, according to the rally organisers. The grandfather of a 24-year-old man who died in custody has drafted an open letter to the prime minister calling on Canberra to step in and address "madness" in the Northern Territory's justice system. The senior Warlpiri leader and kin of Kumanjayi White, who died after being forcibly restrained by two plain clothes officers inside a supermarket in Alice Springs in May, said justice in the Territory was "in crisis". "Your government in Canberra has total power over the NT," Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, a Yuendumu man, wrote. "The prisons are so full they need private security guards; guards on buses and public housing officers are being given guns - this madness must stop." The letter addressed to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese landed ahead of protests in Sydney and Alice Springs on Saturday to demand justice for Mr White. The senior Indigenous leader renewed his call for an independent investigation into the death of his grandson. The family has also been calling for the release of CCTV footage and for the officers involved to be stood down while the investigation takes place. Federal minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, backs an independent inquiry but despite broad support, the NT government has rejected the proposal, saying NT Police are best-placed to investigate the death. Police allege Mr White, who had a mental disability and was in care, was shoplifting and assaulted a security guard. In his letter, Mr Hargraves demanded immediate action from the Commonwealth, including withholding funding to the NT government until it agreed to an independent probe. "You used this power to take away all our rights, our jobs and our assets with the NT Intervention 18 years ago today," he said. "Now we demand action from Canberra to see that our rights are restored and we are protected from the racist Country Liberal Party government." Speaking ahead of a meeting of the Joint Council on Closing the Gap in Darwin on Friday, Senator McCarthy said deaths in custody had to end and the federal government was deeply concerned about the issue. The Yuendumu community also lost 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker in 2019 when he was shot by then-NT police officer Zachary Rolfe during a botched arrest. Mr Rolfe was found not guilty of all charges over the death in 2022. Protesters in Sydney gathered to respond to a policing conference involving the former police officer but the first responders event has since been cancelled, according to the rally organisers. The grandfather of a 24-year-old man who died in custody has drafted an open letter to the prime minister calling on Canberra to step in and address "madness" in the Northern Territory's justice system. The senior Warlpiri leader and kin of Kumanjayi White, who died after being forcibly restrained by two plain clothes officers inside a supermarket in Alice Springs in May, said justice in the Territory was "in crisis". "Your government in Canberra has total power over the NT," Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, a Yuendumu man, wrote. "The prisons are so full they need private security guards; guards on buses and public housing officers are being given guns - this madness must stop." The letter addressed to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese landed ahead of protests in Sydney and Alice Springs on Saturday to demand justice for Mr White. The senior Indigenous leader renewed his call for an independent investigation into the death of his grandson. The family has also been calling for the release of CCTV footage and for the officers involved to be stood down while the investigation takes place. Federal minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, backs an independent inquiry but despite broad support, the NT government has rejected the proposal, saying NT Police are best-placed to investigate the death. Police allege Mr White, who had a mental disability and was in care, was shoplifting and assaulted a security guard. In his letter, Mr Hargraves demanded immediate action from the Commonwealth, including withholding funding to the NT government until it agreed to an independent probe. "You used this power to take away all our rights, our jobs and our assets with the NT Intervention 18 years ago today," he said. "Now we demand action from Canberra to see that our rights are restored and we are protected from the racist Country Liberal Party government." Speaking ahead of a meeting of the Joint Council on Closing the Gap in Darwin on Friday, Senator McCarthy said deaths in custody had to end and the federal government was deeply concerned about the issue. The Yuendumu community also lost 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker in 2019 when he was shot by then-NT police officer Zachary Rolfe during a botched arrest. Mr Rolfe was found not guilty of all charges over the death in 2022. Protesters in Sydney gathered to respond to a policing conference involving the former police officer but the first responders event has since been cancelled, according to the rally organisers. The grandfather of a 24-year-old man who died in custody has drafted an open letter to the prime minister calling on Canberra to step in and address "madness" in the Northern Territory's justice system. The senior Warlpiri leader and kin of Kumanjayi White, who died after being forcibly restrained by two plain clothes officers inside a supermarket in Alice Springs in May, said justice in the Territory was "in crisis". "Your government in Canberra has total power over the NT," Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, a Yuendumu man, wrote. "The prisons are so full they need private security guards; guards on buses and public housing officers are being given guns - this madness must stop." The letter addressed to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese landed ahead of protests in Sydney and Alice Springs on Saturday to demand justice for Mr White. The senior Indigenous leader renewed his call for an independent investigation into the death of his grandson. The family has also been calling for the release of CCTV footage and for the officers involved to be stood down while the investigation takes place. Federal minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, backs an independent inquiry but despite broad support, the NT government has rejected the proposal, saying NT Police are best-placed to investigate the death. Police allege Mr White, who had a mental disability and was in care, was shoplifting and assaulted a security guard. In his letter, Mr Hargraves demanded immediate action from the Commonwealth, including withholding funding to the NT government until it agreed to an independent probe. "You used this power to take away all our rights, our jobs and our assets with the NT Intervention 18 years ago today," he said. "Now we demand action from Canberra to see that our rights are restored and we are protected from the racist Country Liberal Party government." Speaking ahead of a meeting of the Joint Council on Closing the Gap in Darwin on Friday, Senator McCarthy said deaths in custody had to end and the federal government was deeply concerned about the issue. The Yuendumu community also lost 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker in 2019 when he was shot by then-NT police officer Zachary Rolfe during a botched arrest. Mr Rolfe was found not guilty of all charges over the death in 2022. Protesters in Sydney gathered to respond to a policing conference involving the former police officer but the first responders event has since been cancelled, according to the rally organisers.
West Australian
2 days ago
- West Australian
Grandfather pens letter to PM after death in custody
The grandfather of a 24-year-old man who died in custody has drafted an open letter to the prime minister calling on Canberra to step in and address "madness" in the Northern Territory's justice system. The senior Warlpiri leader and kin of Kumanjayi White, who died after being forcibly restrained by two plain clothes officers inside a supermarket in Alice Springs in May, said justice in the Territory was "in crisis". "Your government in Canberra has total power over the NT," Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, a Yuendumu man, wrote. "The prisons are so full they need private security guards; guards on buses and public housing officers are being given guns - this madness must stop." The letter addressed to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese landed ahead of protests in Sydney and Alice Springs on Saturday to demand justice for Mr White. The senior Indigenous leader renewed his call for an independent investigation into the death of his grandson. The family has also been calling for the release of CCTV footage and for the officers involved to be stood down while the investigation takes place. Federal minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, backs an independent inquiry but despite broad support, the NT government has rejected the proposal, saying NT Police are best-placed to investigate the death. Police allege Mr White, who had a mental disability and was in care, was shoplifting and assaulted a security guard. In his letter, Mr Hargraves demanded immediate action from the Commonwealth, including withholding funding to the NT government until it agreed to an independent probe. "You used this power to take away all our rights, our jobs and our assets with the NT Intervention 18 years ago today," he said. "Now we demand action from Canberra to see that our rights are restored and we are protected from the racist Country Liberal Party government." Speaking ahead of a meeting of the Joint Council on Closing the Gap in Darwin on Friday, Senator McCarthy said deaths in custody had to end and the federal government was deeply concerned about the issue. The Yuendumu community also lost 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker in 2019 when he was shot by then-NT police officer Zachary Rolfe during a botched arrest. Mr Rolfe was found not guilty of all charges over the death in 2022. Protesters in Sydney gathered to respond to a policing conference involving the former police officer but the first responders event has since been cancelled, according to the rally organisers.
