‘A lot of anger’: a community shattered by the senseless death of Cassius Turvey

The senseless death of 15-year-old Cassius Turvey has shattered an Aboriginal community, who are in disbelief that the Noongar boy was allegedly attacked in broad daylight while walking home from school.

A 21-year-old man has been charged with murder after the alleged attack on the boy and his friends as they walked home in Middle Swan, a suburb of Perth, on the afternoon of 13 October.

After being rushed by ambulance to the hospital, he was treated and then sent home for eight hours before his condition deteriorated and he was rushed back.

Cassius was placed in an induced coma after suffering two strokes and a brain bleed and was in hospital for five days before family were forced to turn off his life support.

Despite the weight of grief his family is carrying, his mother, Mechelle Turvey, has paid tribute to her son and asked for justice in the wake of his death.

Turvey spoke with dignity and grace through her anguish on the steps of the courtroom where her son's alleged killer faced charges.

She said she wished Cassius had been able to realise his standing within the community, despite his young age.