Accused killer of Cassius Turvey makes separate trial bid for second alleged attack

Dechlan Brennan Published June 6, 2024 at 2.30pm (AWST)

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Cassius Turvey. (Image: supplied)

One of the accused murderers of 15-year-old Noongar Yamatji boy Cassius Turvey has applied to have some of his charges heard separately from his co-accused.

23-year-old Jack Brearley is one of four people accused of murdering Cassius, who died in hospital ten days after being assaulted with a metal pole as he was walking with friends in Middle Swan in Perth on October 13, 2022.

Cassius' family alleged the children were racially abused in the moments beforehand.

Brearley, along with Aleesha Louise Gilmore, 21, Mitchell Colin Forth, 26 and Brodie Lee Palmer, 29, have all pleaded not guilty to charges they are facing, after appearing in the Perth Supreme Court via video link on Thursday ahead of the scheduled trial in February next year.

They are also accused of assaulting a 13-year-old boy who was with Cassius at the time, who allegedly had his cap and crutches stolen from him.

Furthermore, Brearley, Palmer and Gilmore, along with a fourth individual, Ethan McKenzie, 20 - who also pleaded not-guilty - have been charged with alleged kidnapping and assaulting another 15-year-old boy on October 9, 2022 — four days before the alleged incident which lead to Cassius' death.

Police allege the teenager was chased and punched, kicked, and stabbed, before being taken to a house and detained for a short time.

*Cassius' death saw an outpouring of grief across the country. (Image: Rhiannon Clarke)*

Currently all charges are scheduled to be heard together, however the ABC reported lawyers for Mr Brearley want the two cases to be tried separately, opening up the possibility of two criminal trials.

It was revealed Brearley's lawyer has said the application was already filed ahead of a public hearing in August before Justice Joseph McGrath.

He said his client wished to attend the hearing in person.

It is unclear why the application was filed, however it is understood the other accused are considering joining the severance application.

Justice McGrath urged the prosecution to look at both issues, saying they should be looked at "expeditiously," saying if the application did get up, debate would then be needed about which trail would go first.