ROEBOURNE HOLDS VIGIL FOR CASSIUS TURVEY

In Ieramagadu/Roebourne on Wednesday night, hundreds gathered for a candlelit vigil to mourn the death of 15-year-old Noongar boy Cassius Turvey.

Police have charged Jack Brearley, 21, with Cassius’s murder following an alleged attack in Middle Swan, Perth.

Roebourne community members and visitors walked together in silence around the school oval to honour Cassius.

Noongar Elder Robert Yates, who lives in Roebourne, said he felt a mix of emotions.

“It’s very sad, and it’s hard to understand,” he said.

“The feelings are there. You feel angry, you feel all these sort of things. Picturing yourself as a kid these days, you’re getting off a bus and you’re not expecting that sort of thing to happen.”

Representing the Turvy family, Noongar woman Sue Yappo acknowledged the loss of John Pat, a young man from Roebourne who died in police custody in 1983.

“The loss of Cassius … there’s no words to describe it,” Ms Yappo said.

“But being in Roebourne … the people here will know, on the 28th of September 1983, the impact that was had on your people, the families here.”

“It’s so sad.”