Ahead of Indigenous schoolboy Cassius Turvey's funeral next week, the court case of his alleged murderer has been adjourned for 10 weeks so evidence that has been gathered can be provided to his lawyers.
WARNING: This story features the names and images of deceased Aboriginal people, which have been used with the permission of their families.
Neither Jack Steven James Brearley nor his lawyer were required to appear in the Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court this morning when the state prosecutor said it had been agreed to adjourn the case until January 18.
Mr Brearley has been accused of approaching Cassius, who was walking with friends after school in Middle Swan on October 13, and beating him with a metal pole, which police believe to be a shopping trolley handle.
The 15-year-old Noongar-Yamatji boy sustained serious head injuries in the alleged assault and died in hospital 10 days later.
Mr Brearley was arrested following the incident and has since been in custody.
It has also been alleged the 21-year-old man beat another 13-year-old boy – who was with Cassius – before stealing his crutches and cap.
Mr Brearley has been charged with one count each of murder, assault, and stealing. He has not yet entered pleas to the charges.
Boy's death rallies support across the nation
Cassius's death has sparked an outpouring of support and grief which swept across the country, with some communities questioning whether race was a factor in the alleged murder.
WA Police have urged the community not to speculate about the motivation behind the incident, and to allow the evidence to come out before the court.
The Noongar-Yamatji boy's mother, Mechelle Turvey, led a peaceful march of thousands through Perth in early November in honour of her son, who Ms Turvey described as a "young leader".
Her grief inspired thousands more to gather throughout the day across more than 40 vigils spanning the nation.
In a statement read at the rallies, Ms Turvey urged for calm and unity.
"I don't want to fuel prejudices, biases. I don't want to fuel the stereotypes of First Nations people as violent," Ms Turvey wrote.
"My family and I send our love to each one of you for supporting, for raising voices and for showing so much kindness and respect. I am overwhelmed and eternally grateful."
'Do not use my son's tragedy': Mother
In the days after her son's death, Ms Turvey met with WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch who had come under fire for saying Cassius may have been "in the wrong place at the wrong time".
The Commissioner later acknowledged the "hurt" his comments had caused to some Indigenous communities and made multiple statements opposing racism.
"I did go to Cassius's mum, and I spent a couple of hours with the family to say I oppose racism," he told ABC Radio Perth.
"I believed he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, meaning that he was an innocent person in the wrong place."
Calls have continued for him to offer a formal apology, while Cassius's mother Ms Turvey has urged communities not to use her son's death to fuel division.
"We know racism exists, but do not use my son's tragedy as a platform to blow your trumpets," she said at a community vigil on October 31.
Jack Brearley was again remanded in custody, and can only be granted bail by a judge of the Supreme Court after a full public hearing as he is facing a murder charge.
