'They're monsters': teen's murderers get life in prison
Cassius Turvey, a Noongar Yamatji boy, died in hospital 10 days after he was deliberately struck to the head in Perth's eastern suburbs on October 13, 2022.
Jack Steven James Brearley, 24, and Brodie Lee Palmer, 30, were convicted in May of murdering the 15-year-old after a 12-week trial.
They were each sentenced on Friday to life imprisonment, with Brearley eligible for parole after serving 22 years and Palmer after serving 18 years.
Mitchell Colin Forth, 27, who also stood trial in the West Australian Supreme Court for the murder of Cassius and was found guilty of manslaughter, was sentenced to 12 years. He will be eligible for parole after serving 10 years.
Cassius's mother, Mechelle Turvey, said she was satisfied with the sentences handed to the three men as she vented her frustration and anger over the death of her son.
"I wish I was a bit younger and had better knees so I could have jumped that f**king dock," she said outside the court on Friday.
"They're all freaking monsters.
"No mother should have to visit the grave of a 15-year-old innocent child who did absolutely nothing."
The sentences were met with applause from dozens of supporters inside the court, while verbal abuse was directed at the killers.
"First thing that come to mind after Jack Brearley was sentenced was how he said my son had learned his lesson after he had bashed him in the bush," Ms Turvey said.
"He learned a life lesson now."
Aleesha Louise Gilmore, 23, also stood trial but was acquitted of a murder charge.
Cassius was with fellow students who caught a bus to parklands to watch a fight being talked about on social media.
Brearley, Forth and Palmer intercepted them near the field and Cassius and other "terrified school kids" fled into nearby bushland.
It was there that Brearley caught up with him, the trial heard, before the teen was knocked to the ground and hit in the head with a metal pole.
Cassius was struck at least twice, the impact splitting his ear in half and causing bleeding in his brain.
The attack on Cassius followed a complex series of events that started on October 9 when Forth, Brearley, Gilmore and another man who was tried on lesser charges, Ethan Robert MacKenzie, 21, "snatched two kids off the street" before punching, kicking and stabbing one of them.
Four days later, Brearley and his co-accused allegedly armed themselves with metal poles pulled from shopping trolleys before climbing into Palmer's ute and driving off to search for youths before they came across Cassius.
In sentencing, Chief Justice Peter Quinlan said the killers had cut Cassius's life short in a horrendous and vengeful act of aggression, violence and brutality.
"Cassius Turvey was robbed of his life and of his promise ... all because you killed him, Mr Brearley," he said.
Brearley had a complete lack of remorse and had lied throughout the trial, falsely accusing Cassius of knifing him and attempting to blame an innocent man for the killing, Justice Quinlan said.
"Mr Brearley, you were the person who killed Cassius Turvey in that fit of rage and brutality," he said.
"You went onto that field looking for someone, anyone to inflict serious injury on, and you carried out that intention with unflinching violence.
"While you did not intend to kill Cassius Turvey, your attack was persistent and sustained and only stopped by the arrival of Mr Palmer."
Palmer and Forth were at the scene and found to have a common purpose.
The five defendants variously faced 20 charges over the events of October 9 and 13.
The jury found them guilty of all except Gilmore's murder charge and a theft charge faced by Brearley.
Gilmore was sentenced to one year and three months, conditionally suspended for 24 months.
MacKenzie received two years and six months and will be eligible for parole in November.
13YARN 13 92 76
Lifeline 13 11 14
A murdered Indigenous teenager's heartbroken mother has expressed her fury at his killers after two of his assailants were handed life sentences.
Cassius Turvey, a Noongar Yamatji boy, died in hospital 10 days after he was deliberately struck to the head in Perth's eastern suburbs on October 13, 2022.
Jack Steven James Brearley, 24, and Brodie Lee Palmer, 30, were convicted in May of murdering the 15-year-old after a 12-week trial.
They were each sentenced on Friday to life imprisonment, with Brearley eligible for parole after serving 22 years and Palmer after serving 18 years.
Mitchell Colin Forth, 27, who also stood trial in the West Australian Supreme Court for the murder of Cassius and was found guilty of manslaughter, was sentenced to 12 years. He will be eligible for parole after serving 10 years.
Cassius's mother, Mechelle Turvey, said she was satisfied with the sentences handed to the three men as she vented her frustration and anger over the death of her son.
"I wish I was a bit younger and had better knees so I could have jumped that f**king dock," she said outside the court on Friday.
"They're all freaking monsters.
"No mother should have to visit the grave of a 15-year-old innocent child who did absolutely nothing."
The sentences were met with applause from dozens of supporters inside the court, while verbal abuse was directed at the killers.
"First thing that come to mind after Jack Brearley was sentenced was how he said my son had learned his lesson after he had bashed him in the bush," Ms Turvey said.
"He learned a life lesson now."
Aleesha Louise Gilmore, 23, also stood trial but was acquitted of a murder charge.
Cassius was with fellow students who caught a bus to parklands to watch a fight being talked about on social media.
Brearley, Forth and Palmer intercepted them near the field and Cassius and other "terrified school kids" fled into nearby bushland.
It was there that Brearley caught up with him, the trial heard, before the teen was knocked to the ground and hit in the head with a metal pole.
Cassius was struck at least twice, the impact splitting his ear in half and causing bleeding in his brain.
The attack on Cassius followed a complex series of events that started on October 9 when Forth, Brearley, Gilmore and another man who was tried on lesser charges, Ethan Robert MacKenzie, 21, "snatched two kids off the street" before punching, kicking and stabbing one of them.
Four days later, Brearley and his co-accused allegedly armed themselves with metal poles pulled from shopping trolleys before climbing into Palmer's ute and driving off to search for youths before they came across Cassius.
In sentencing, Chief Justice Peter Quinlan said the killers had cut Cassius's life short in a horrendous and vengeful act of aggression, violence and brutality.
"Cassius Turvey was robbed of his life and of his promise ... all because you killed him, Mr Brearley," he said.
Brearley had a complete lack of remorse and had lied throughout the trial, falsely accusing Cassius of knifing him and attempting to blame an innocent man for the killing, Justice Quinlan said.
"Mr Brearley, you were the person who killed Cassius Turvey in that fit of rage and brutality," he said.
"You went onto that field looking for someone, anyone to inflict serious injury on, and you carried out that intention with unflinching violence.
"While you did not intend to kill Cassius Turvey, your attack was persistent and sustained and only stopped by the arrival of Mr Palmer."
Palmer and Forth were at the scene and found to have a common purpose.
The five defendants variously faced 20 charges over the events of October 9 and 13.
The jury found them guilty of all except Gilmore's murder charge and a theft charge faced by Brearley.
Gilmore was sentenced to one year and three months, conditionally suspended for 24 months.
MacKenzie received two years and six months and will be eligible for parole in November.
13YARN 13 92 76
Lifeline 13 11 14
A murdered Indigenous teenager's heartbroken mother has expressed her fury at his killers after two of his assailants were handed life sentences.
Cassius Turvey, a Noongar Yamatji boy, died in hospital 10 days after he was deliberately struck to the head in Perth's eastern suburbs on October 13, 2022.
Jack Steven James Brearley, 24, and Brodie Lee Palmer, 30, were convicted in May of murdering the 15-year-old after a 12-week trial.
They were each sentenced on Friday to life imprisonment, with Brearley eligible for parole after serving 22 years and Palmer after serving 18 years.
Mitchell Colin Forth, 27, who also stood trial in the West Australian Supreme Court for the murder of Cassius and was found guilty of manslaughter, was sentenced to 12 years. He will be eligible for parole after serving 10 years.
Cassius's mother, Mechelle Turvey, said she was satisfied with the sentences handed to the three men as she vented her frustration and anger over the death of her son.
"I wish I was a bit younger and had better knees so I could have jumped that f**king dock," she said outside the court on Friday.
"They're all freaking monsters.
"No mother should have to visit the grave of a 15-year-old innocent child who did absolutely nothing."
The sentences were met with applause from dozens of supporters inside the court, while verbal abuse was directed at the killers.
"First thing that come to mind after Jack Brearley was sentenced was how he said my son had learned his lesson after he had bashed him in the bush," Ms Turvey said.
"He learned a life lesson now."
Aleesha Louise Gilmore, 23, also stood trial but was acquitted of a murder charge.
Cassius was with fellow students who caught a bus to parklands to watch a fight being talked about on social media.
Brearley, Forth and Palmer intercepted them near the field and Cassius and other "terrified school kids" fled into nearby bushland.
It was there that Brearley caught up with him, the trial heard, before the teen was knocked to the ground and hit in the head with a metal pole.
Cassius was struck at least twice, the impact splitting his ear in half and causing bleeding in his brain.
The attack on Cassius followed a complex series of events that started on October 9 when Forth, Brearley, Gilmore and another man who was tried on lesser charges, Ethan Robert MacKenzie, 21, "snatched two kids off the street" before punching, kicking and stabbing one of them.
Four days later, Brearley and his co-accused allegedly armed themselves with metal poles pulled from shopping trolleys before climbing into Palmer's ute and driving off to search for youths before they came across Cassius.
In sentencing, Chief Justice Peter Quinlan said the killers had cut Cassius's life short in a horrendous and vengeful act of aggression, violence and brutality.
"Cassius Turvey was robbed of his life and of his promise ... all because you killed him, Mr Brearley," he said.
Brearley had a complete lack of remorse and had lied throughout the trial, falsely accusing Cassius of knifing him and attempting to blame an innocent man for the killing, Justice Quinlan said.
"Mr Brearley, you were the person who killed Cassius Turvey in that fit of rage and brutality," he said.
"You went onto that field looking for someone, anyone to inflict serious injury on, and you carried out that intention with unflinching violence.
"While you did not intend to kill Cassius Turvey, your attack was persistent and sustained and only stopped by the arrival of Mr Palmer."
Palmer and Forth were at the scene and found to have a common purpose.
The five defendants variously faced 20 charges over the events of October 9 and 13.
The jury found them guilty of all except Gilmore's murder charge and a theft charge faced by Brearley.
Gilmore was sentenced to one year and three months, conditionally suspended for 24 months.
MacKenzie received two years and six months and will be eligible for parole in November.
13YARN 13 92 76
Lifeline 13 11 14
A murdered Indigenous teenager's heartbroken mother has expressed her fury at his killers after two of his assailants were handed life sentences.
Cassius Turvey, a Noongar Yamatji boy, died in hospital 10 days after he was deliberately struck to the head in Perth's eastern suburbs on October 13, 2022.
Jack Steven James Brearley, 24, and Brodie Lee Palmer, 30, were convicted in May of murdering the 15-year-old after a 12-week trial.
They were each sentenced on Friday to life imprisonment, with Brearley eligible for parole after serving 22 years and Palmer after serving 18 years.
Mitchell Colin Forth, 27, who also stood trial in the West Australian Supreme Court for the murder of Cassius and was found guilty of manslaughter, was sentenced to 12 years. He will be eligible for parole after serving 10 years.
Cassius's mother, Mechelle Turvey, said she was satisfied with the sentences handed to the three men as she vented her frustration and anger over the death of her son.
"I wish I was a bit younger and had better knees so I could have jumped that f**king dock," she said outside the court on Friday.
"They're all freaking monsters.
"No mother should have to visit the grave of a 15-year-old innocent child who did absolutely nothing."
The sentences were met with applause from dozens of supporters inside the court, while verbal abuse was directed at the killers.
"First thing that come to mind after Jack Brearley was sentenced was how he said my son had learned his lesson after he had bashed him in the bush," Ms Turvey said.
"He learned a life lesson now."
Aleesha Louise Gilmore, 23, also stood trial but was acquitted of a murder charge.
Cassius was with fellow students who caught a bus to parklands to watch a fight being talked about on social media.
Brearley, Forth and Palmer intercepted them near the field and Cassius and other "terrified school kids" fled into nearby bushland.
It was there that Brearley caught up with him, the trial heard, before the teen was knocked to the ground and hit in the head with a metal pole.
Cassius was struck at least twice, the impact splitting his ear in half and causing bleeding in his brain.
The attack on Cassius followed a complex series of events that started on October 9 when Forth, Brearley, Gilmore and another man who was tried on lesser charges, Ethan Robert MacKenzie, 21, "snatched two kids off the street" before punching, kicking and stabbing one of them.
Four days later, Brearley and his co-accused allegedly armed themselves with metal poles pulled from shopping trolleys before climbing into Palmer's ute and driving off to search for youths before they came across Cassius.
In sentencing, Chief Justice Peter Quinlan said the killers had cut Cassius's life short in a horrendous and vengeful act of aggression, violence and brutality.
"Cassius Turvey was robbed of his life and of his promise ... all because you killed him, Mr Brearley," he said.
Brearley had a complete lack of remorse and had lied throughout the trial, falsely accusing Cassius of knifing him and attempting to blame an innocent man for the killing, Justice Quinlan said.
"Mr Brearley, you were the person who killed Cassius Turvey in that fit of rage and brutality," he said.
"You went onto that field looking for someone, anyone to inflict serious injury on, and you carried out that intention with unflinching violence.
"While you did not intend to kill Cassius Turvey, your attack was persistent and sustained and only stopped by the arrival of Mr Palmer."
Palmer and Forth were at the scene and found to have a common purpose.
The five defendants variously faced 20 charges over the events of October 9 and 13.
The jury found them guilty of all except Gilmore's murder charge and a theft charge faced by Brearley.
Gilmore was sentenced to one year and three months, conditionally suspended for 24 months.
MacKenzie received two years and six months and will be eligible for parole in November.
13YARN 13 92 76
Lifeline 13 11 14
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
6 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Australia due for 'massive reckoning' with its history
Australia needs a "massive reckoning" with the injustices of its own colonial past, human rights advocates say. Speaking at the Garma Festival at Gulkula in northeast Arnhem Land, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss said people must be mindful about political leaders favouring "practical measures" over truth-telling. "What people don't understand is that it's the practical measures that got us to the situation that we're currently in," she said. "We've got to be really mindful about that fact when we hear this narrative about truth-telling is symbolism." The importance of truth-telling was also highlighted by Human Rights Commission president Hugh De Kretser. "In mainstream Australia there is a need for a massive reckoning around the injustice," he said. "That's why truth-telling is so important." Ms Kiss pointed to youth justice legislation in the Northern Territory and Queensland, saying those jurisdictions have been wilfully opposing their human rights obligations. "If we do not exercise our rights, they are not held accountable to them," she said. "If we do not challenge governments on the fact they have obligations to our rights, they will continue to violate them." Her comments come after Warlpiri Elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves called out the Northern Territory government and the NT Police at the Garma Festival. Mr Hargraves said his community of Yuendumu had lost trust in the police after the deaths of his grandson Kumanjayi White in May, and Kumanjayi Walker in 2019. Kumanjayi Walker was 19 when he was shot by then-constable Zachary Rolfe at close range at a home in Yuendumu. A coronial inquest found Mr Walker's death was preventable, and coroner Elisabeth Armitage said she could not rule out that racism may have played a part in the teenager's death. The Northern Territory government is yet to commit to any of the coroner's recommendations, handed down in Yuendumu in July. In May, the community was left reeling after the death of Kumanjayi White at a supermarket in Alice Springs. The 24-year-old, who had a disability, died after being forcibly restrained by two plain-clothes officers. "Kumanjayi Walker was murdered in broad daylight," Mr Hargraves said. "In the same way my jaja, my grandson, was done, he was killed by the law. "The police has done enough. Enough is enough. We have to put a stop to it somewhere." Reading from a letter he penned to the prime minister, Mr Hargraves said Anthony Albanese had the power to turn around the outcomes for his community. "This genocide must stop," he said. "We are asking you, the prime minister, to do something about it." Mr Albanese visited Garma for a few hours on Saturday, making a speech and meeting with senior Yolngu leaders. He announced an economic partnership with Indigenous organisations, which he said would allow Traditional Owners to advocate for infrastructure, housing and energy projects on their land, with millions promised for First Nations clean energy projects and for native title reform. During his speech Mr Albanese also acknowledged the work of Victoria's truth-telling process, the Yoorrook Justice Commission, which Mr De Kretser said was good to see, and could "open the door a little" to truth-telling on a national level. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 Australia needs a "massive reckoning" with the injustices of its own colonial past, human rights advocates say. Speaking at the Garma Festival at Gulkula in northeast Arnhem Land, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss said people must be mindful about political leaders favouring "practical measures" over truth-telling. "What people don't understand is that it's the practical measures that got us to the situation that we're currently in," she said. "We've got to be really mindful about that fact when we hear this narrative about truth-telling is symbolism." The importance of truth-telling was also highlighted by Human Rights Commission president Hugh De Kretser. "In mainstream Australia there is a need for a massive reckoning around the injustice," he said. "That's why truth-telling is so important." Ms Kiss pointed to youth justice legislation in the Northern Territory and Queensland, saying those jurisdictions have been wilfully opposing their human rights obligations. "If we do not exercise our rights, they are not held accountable to them," she said. "If we do not challenge governments on the fact they have obligations to our rights, they will continue to violate them." Her comments come after Warlpiri Elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves called out the Northern Territory government and the NT Police at the Garma Festival. Mr Hargraves said his community of Yuendumu had lost trust in the police after the deaths of his grandson Kumanjayi White in May, and Kumanjayi Walker in 2019. Kumanjayi Walker was 19 when he was shot by then-constable Zachary Rolfe at close range at a home in Yuendumu. A coronial inquest found Mr Walker's death was preventable, and coroner Elisabeth Armitage said she could not rule out that racism may have played a part in the teenager's death. The Northern Territory government is yet to commit to any of the coroner's recommendations, handed down in Yuendumu in July. In May, the community was left reeling after the death of Kumanjayi White at a supermarket in Alice Springs. The 24-year-old, who had a disability, died after being forcibly restrained by two plain-clothes officers. "Kumanjayi Walker was murdered in broad daylight," Mr Hargraves said. "In the same way my jaja, my grandson, was done, he was killed by the law. "The police has done enough. Enough is enough. We have to put a stop to it somewhere." Reading from a letter he penned to the prime minister, Mr Hargraves said Anthony Albanese had the power to turn around the outcomes for his community. "This genocide must stop," he said. "We are asking you, the prime minister, to do something about it." Mr Albanese visited Garma for a few hours on Saturday, making a speech and meeting with senior Yolngu leaders. He announced an economic partnership with Indigenous organisations, which he said would allow Traditional Owners to advocate for infrastructure, housing and energy projects on their land, with millions promised for First Nations clean energy projects and for native title reform. During his speech Mr Albanese also acknowledged the work of Victoria's truth-telling process, the Yoorrook Justice Commission, which Mr De Kretser said was good to see, and could "open the door a little" to truth-telling on a national level. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 Australia needs a "massive reckoning" with the injustices of its own colonial past, human rights advocates say. Speaking at the Garma Festival at Gulkula in northeast Arnhem Land, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss said people must be mindful about political leaders favouring "practical measures" over truth-telling. "What people don't understand is that it's the practical measures that got us to the situation that we're currently in," she said. "We've got to be really mindful about that fact when we hear this narrative about truth-telling is symbolism." The importance of truth-telling was also highlighted by Human Rights Commission president Hugh De Kretser. "In mainstream Australia there is a need for a massive reckoning around the injustice," he said. "That's why truth-telling is so important." Ms Kiss pointed to youth justice legislation in the Northern Territory and Queensland, saying those jurisdictions have been wilfully opposing their human rights obligations. "If we do not exercise our rights, they are not held accountable to them," she said. "If we do not challenge governments on the fact they have obligations to our rights, they will continue to violate them." Her comments come after Warlpiri Elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves called out the Northern Territory government and the NT Police at the Garma Festival. Mr Hargraves said his community of Yuendumu had lost trust in the police after the deaths of his grandson Kumanjayi White in May, and Kumanjayi Walker in 2019. Kumanjayi Walker was 19 when he was shot by then-constable Zachary Rolfe at close range at a home in Yuendumu. A coronial inquest found Mr Walker's death was preventable, and coroner Elisabeth Armitage said she could not rule out that racism may have played a part in the teenager's death. The Northern Territory government is yet to commit to any of the coroner's recommendations, handed down in Yuendumu in July. In May, the community was left reeling after the death of Kumanjayi White at a supermarket in Alice Springs. The 24-year-old, who had a disability, died after being forcibly restrained by two plain-clothes officers. "Kumanjayi Walker was murdered in broad daylight," Mr Hargraves said. "In the same way my jaja, my grandson, was done, he was killed by the law. "The police has done enough. Enough is enough. We have to put a stop to it somewhere." Reading from a letter he penned to the prime minister, Mr Hargraves said Anthony Albanese had the power to turn around the outcomes for his community. "This genocide must stop," he said. "We are asking you, the prime minister, to do something about it." Mr Albanese visited Garma for a few hours on Saturday, making a speech and meeting with senior Yolngu leaders. He announced an economic partnership with Indigenous organisations, which he said would allow Traditional Owners to advocate for infrastructure, housing and energy projects on their land, with millions promised for First Nations clean energy projects and for native title reform. During his speech Mr Albanese also acknowledged the work of Victoria's truth-telling process, the Yoorrook Justice Commission, which Mr De Kretser said was good to see, and could "open the door a little" to truth-telling on a national level. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 Australia needs a "massive reckoning" with the injustices of its own colonial past, human rights advocates say. Speaking at the Garma Festival at Gulkula in northeast Arnhem Land, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss said people must be mindful about political leaders favouring "practical measures" over truth-telling. "What people don't understand is that it's the practical measures that got us to the situation that we're currently in," she said. "We've got to be really mindful about that fact when we hear this narrative about truth-telling is symbolism." The importance of truth-telling was also highlighted by Human Rights Commission president Hugh De Kretser. "In mainstream Australia there is a need for a massive reckoning around the injustice," he said. "That's why truth-telling is so important." Ms Kiss pointed to youth justice legislation in the Northern Territory and Queensland, saying those jurisdictions have been wilfully opposing their human rights obligations. "If we do not exercise our rights, they are not held accountable to them," she said. "If we do not challenge governments on the fact they have obligations to our rights, they will continue to violate them." Her comments come after Warlpiri Elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves called out the Northern Territory government and the NT Police at the Garma Festival. Mr Hargraves said his community of Yuendumu had lost trust in the police after the deaths of his grandson Kumanjayi White in May, and Kumanjayi Walker in 2019. Kumanjayi Walker was 19 when he was shot by then-constable Zachary Rolfe at close range at a home in Yuendumu. A coronial inquest found Mr Walker's death was preventable, and coroner Elisabeth Armitage said she could not rule out that racism may have played a part in the teenager's death. The Northern Territory government is yet to commit to any of the coroner's recommendations, handed down in Yuendumu in July. In May, the community was left reeling after the death of Kumanjayi White at a supermarket in Alice Springs. The 24-year-old, who had a disability, died after being forcibly restrained by two plain-clothes officers. "Kumanjayi Walker was murdered in broad daylight," Mr Hargraves said. "In the same way my jaja, my grandson, was done, he was killed by the law. "The police has done enough. Enough is enough. We have to put a stop to it somewhere." Reading from a letter he penned to the prime minister, Mr Hargraves said Anthony Albanese had the power to turn around the outcomes for his community. "This genocide must stop," he said. "We are asking you, the prime minister, to do something about it." Mr Albanese visited Garma for a few hours on Saturday, making a speech and meeting with senior Yolngu leaders. He announced an economic partnership with Indigenous organisations, which he said would allow Traditional Owners to advocate for infrastructure, housing and energy projects on their land, with millions promised for First Nations clean energy projects and for native title reform. During his speech Mr Albanese also acknowledged the work of Victoria's truth-telling process, the Yoorrook Justice Commission, which Mr De Kretser said was good to see, and could "open the door a little" to truth-telling on a national level. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14
9 News
10 hours ago
- 9 News
Detective who collared murderer Murdoch reveals how he linked cases
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here The South Australian detective who collared outback killer Bradley Murdoch has spoken for the first time. Geoff Carson told 9News how he linked a mystery man in the Riverlands to the monster who killed Peter Falconio and shares his theory on what Murdoch did with the backpacker's body. Now retired, Carson was the small-town cop who solved a national mystery. Now retired, Geoff Carson was the small-town cop who solved a national mystery. (Nine) "At the start of the new century, it was the most talked about crime at the time, who would've done such a brazen act," he said. The breakthrough began with a single phone call. "He says, 'I don't care what you're doing, I need to see you right now', and he said the name of his daughter and he said that she'd been raped." In South Australia's Riverland, a woman and her 12-year-old daughter had been abducted by a violent monster. They were bound and gagged, and put in the back of a truck that belonged to Murdoch. The South Australian detective who collared outback killer Bradley Murdoch has spoken for the first time. (Nine) After a 20-hour ordeal, the victims were paid for their silence and let go. When Carson took their statement, something clicked. "Little pocket notebook, I wrote down, halfway down the page, Falconio, then a question mark, it just rang to me straight way," Carson said. The previous year British backpackers Falconio and Joanne Lees had been ambushed along a remote stretch of highway in the Northern Territory. Lees escaped into the scrub after being bound with the same cable ties as the Riverland victims. "In 40 years of policing I hadn't come across someone who'd done that before, so it was a unique type of behaviour, I thought," Carson said. When Murdoch was arrested over the abduction of the mother and daughter, Carson made contact with the Northern Territory. Peter Falconio was shot dead in the NT. (Nine) "I said I reckon I got your fella," he said. But NT Police had already crossed Murdoch off their list. So Carson took matters into his own hands. He bundled up cigarette butts and milk cartons marked with the killer's DNA, evidence that would lead to a match and a warrant for Murdoch's arrest. For the Riverland rapes a jury found there wasn't enough evidence to convict Murdoch. But on the day he was acquitted police were waiting at Adelaide's Supreme Court. The monster was charged for an outback murder. But Carson remains determined to solve that mystery once and for all. He says he was given one clue, a remark Murdoch had made to a friend. "He said to this old fella, 'If I was ever going to get rid of a body, I'd put it into the grate off on the side of the road, like the flood mitigation, bury it in one of those because no one would ever find it, no one would ever dig in there'," Carson said. Falconio's remains may still be missing but the case isn't closed. The reward for information was recently raised to $500,000. "Anyone who has lost a loved one wants to be able to put that loved one to rest," Carson said. "They want to know that they are finally at peace, the Falconio's haven't got that." police South Australia murder crime national Australia CONTACT US
News.com.au
12 hours ago
- News.com.au
WA dad who impregnated daughter, 14, has jail term reduced
EXCLUSIVE Warning: Graphic content A father who googled fake DNA tests after he impregnated his biological 14-year-old daughter has had his jail term reduced after the original sentence was found to be 'unjust'. The forklift driver from Western Australia, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty in 2024 to 40 counts of sexual offending against his daughter, which came to light after the girl fell pregnant with his child. The man committed the offences between 2019 and 2022 while the girl was aged 11 to 14. He also pleaded guilty to five counts of possessing child exploitation material after filming several of the acts. In August 2024, he was sentenced to 14 years and six months in prison for the offending. However, the father appealed the sentence on the basis that he was only given a 10 per cent discount for an early guilty plea, arguing it should have been 25 per cent. The man's lawyer, Mark Gunning, told the court that a 10 per cent discount was 'manifestly inadequate' given that his client had spared the girl the need to testify at trial. WA Director of Public Prosecutions lawyer Natalie Sinton said the 10 per cent discount was not 'unreasonable' as the father had filmed his acts and the girl had given birth to his child, making the prosecution case 'overwhelmingly' strong. The WA Supreme Court appeals panel ruled the 10 per cent discount was 'unreasonable' and 'plainly unjust'. The panel resentenced the man and increased the discount to 22 per cent for counts 1, 2 and 3, and 20 per cent for the remaining counts – reducing the sentence to 12 years. 'As strong as the State's case was in relation to all of the counts, counts 1, 2 and 3 were slightly weaker, having regard to the fact that they were not videoâ€'recorded,' the panel decision stated. 'Brazen' offending During the appeal process, the court heard how the offending came to light after the girl's school reported the pregnancy. The daughter then confided in her mother, who had separated from the father in 2010, that the baby was his. The court heard how the father made several Google searches on his phone after being first interviewed by police in 2023, which included 'Can a mother refuse a paternity test Australia', 'What does a fake DNA test look like?', 'How long can a drug test pick up meth?' and 'Can police see deleted DMs?' He also read a news article which was entitled: 'Man jailed for fake DNA test to deny parentage of two sons.' A DNA test later confirmed the baby was his. The appeals panel pointed out in their decision that the offending was 'brazen'. 'Sometimes, it occurred when there were other children in the house. On one occasion, it occurred when there were other children in the room,' The WA Supreme Court decision stated. The 12-year sentence is backdated from March 28, 2023. He is already eligible for parole.
