Cassius Turvey's accused killers threatened each other, jury told
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WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this story contains an image of a person who is deceased.

A man accused of murdering an Indigenous teenager over broken car windows has denied going to a co-accused mate’s home with a shotgun in the days after the alleged attack.

Jack Steven James Brearley, 24, says prosecutors have it wrong and he didn’t strike Cassius Turvey in the head with a metal pole in Perth’s eastern suburbs on October 13, 2022.

He has told a jury his co-accused, Brodie Lee Palmer, 29, swung the blows that led to the 15-year-old Noongar Yamatji boy’s death in hospital 10 days later.

A memorial to murdered teenager Cassius Turvey in the Midland, Perth, Thursday, February 13, 2025. (AAP Image/Aaron Bunch) NO ARCHIVING (AAP)

Brearley also said Palmer threatened him after the incident and said he would end up in a body bag if he spoke about it.

Palmer’s lawyer, Christian Porter, has accused Brearley of repeatedly lying to police, the jury and his family about his version of events in a bid to avoid blame for the killing.

He also put it to Brearley that he had fronted up at Palmer’s home twice in the days after Cassius was allegedly attacked.

“You went to Mr Palmer’s house at 2am with Mitchell Forth … You had a balaclava on and had a shotgun?” Porter said.

“That’s incorrect,” Brearley replied.

Porter said Brearley returned two days later.

“You didn’t have a weapon but you threatened Mr Palmer?”

Cassius Turvey, 15, died after succumbing to injuries sustained while he walked home from school in Middle Swan in Perth. (Supplied)

Brearley’s girlfriend Aleesha Louise Gilmore, 23, and one of his co-workers Mitchell Colin Forth, 26, are also on trial, charged with murdering Cassius.

Prosecutors allege Brearley chased Cassius down and deliberately struck him in the head with a metal shopping trolley pole while he was “hunting for kids” because somebody had smashed his car windows.

They allege Forth, Palmer and Gilmore helped him, and knew his intent before the incident.

Porter also played a recording of a phone call between Brearley and his father on October 28, 2022 while he was in Hakea remand prison.

During the call, Brearley’s father says his co-accused are “rolling” on him and he is facing additional charges.

“That’s not me,” Brearley said as the allegation is explained to him.

“This is bulls— … I’ll take a lie detector if I have to.”

CAssius Turvey memorial
A memorial to Turvey in Perth. (Nine)

His father replied: “They don’t do that in Australia, mate.”

Brearley’s father tells his son to tell the truth when he speaks to his solicitor and that his co-accuseds’ “lies will come unstuck and they are trying to save their own skins”.

“I can’t do this anymore,” Brearley can be heard saying, clearly crying.

His father: “Stay strong … It’ll be OK, buddy.”

Brearley: “I’m sick of this.”

He also spoke to his brother, telling him “I didn’t do s***, mate”.

Brearley also told his father he didn’t get out of a car that the prosecution said was driven by Palmer to the location where Cassius was allegedly beaten.

He said Palmer and another person who is not accused of the murder got out and were away from the vehicle for about two minutes when the incident is alleged to have occurred.

“It’ll come out, mate … I’m right there with you every step,” his father said in response.

Brearley: “Dad, I love you.”

His father: “I love you too.”

Porter raised his voice at Brearley, saying the phone call demonstrated his extraordinary capacity to lie.

“I agree but you need to stop yelling at me,” Brearley replied.

Porter also showed a still image of Brearley outside the home he shared with Gilmore and her family.

He told the jury it showed Brearley holding a pole in his hand, which he denied.

For 24/7 crisis support run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, contact 13YARN (13 92 76).

Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyond blue on 1300 22 4636.

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