The outpouring of community grief has continued to grow in Western Australia following the death of 15-year-old Cassius Turvey, who was allegedly attacked while walking home from school.
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the following article contains an image of a person who has died.
The teenager was walking with friends in Middle Swan, in Perth's east, on October 13 when police allege a 21-year-old man exited a car and hit him with a metal pole.
Multiple surgeries were not enough to save him after he suffered serious head injuries, and he died in hospital on Sunday after being placed in an induced coma.
A 21-year-old man, Jack Steven James Brearley, was originally charged with one count of unlawful wounding, but detectives later upgraded the charge to murder.
'He looked like a beautiful boy'
Premier Mark McGowan expressed his sympathies to the family of Cassius, who he said he understood to have been a "beautiful" boy.
"It's extremely sad … I just feel so much for the family of that little boy, he looked like a beautiful little boy," he said.
"They are going through a lot and it's unimaginable really. I just urge everyone to let the law run its course."
Speaking on ABC Radio Perth this week, Cassius's mother, Noongar-Yamatji woman Mechelle Turvey, described her son as a "young leader".
She said he was a "vibrant, caring, jokester with a beautiful smile" who loved school and his family, while loved ones have taken to social media to describe him as a "sweet boy" with a "kind and gentle soul".
Call for change
Questions are being asked in the community about whether the attack may have been racially motivated.
Noongar academic Hannah McGlade is a human rights lawyer and member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
She's calling for wider change in Australia.
"We have history that is deeply racist in this country," Dr McGlade said.
"It's really time that we have a proper national engagement with this.
"I support and applaud the Prime Minister's commitment to voice, treaty and truth telling but we also need to address race hate crimes."
Dr McGlade says not enough has changed since Australia signed the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in the early 1990s.
"The inquiry in 1991 into racist violence told us very clearly what we need to do," she said.
"We need to monitor race hate crimes across the country, we need to ensure that race, racial motivation is treated as an aggravating feature of a crime where it is relevant and proven."
Premier urges caution
Mr McGowan joined WA Police in urging caution regarding public speculation about the nature of the incident.
"It's before the courts, courts will decide these things," he said.
"You don't want to intervene in these things. You've seen something happen over east today whereby people say or do something they shouldn't, and trials are abandoned.
"I'm not going to do that, so I'll just say, a beautiful kid, a terrible tragedy, a family that's grieving, let's let the law run its course."
WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said yesterday the Homicide Squad was still working to "build a picture" of the circumstances leading to the death, and that the investigation was ongoing.
"My thoughts are with the family of Cassius at this terrible time," he said.
"At this stage it appears Cassius was an innocent victim of a violent attack.
"He was simply spending time with his friends when he was assaulted.
"I urge community members to refrain from unfounded speculation regarding this tragic death of a young boy, who was a much-loved family member and friend.
"The justice process needs to be allowed to run its course, as does the ongoing investigation."
Classmates supported as investigation continues
It is understood police are still searching for the metal pole allegedly used.
Police returned to Middle Swan on Thursday, where they used a drone to search the scene from the air.
The boy's injuries included lacerations to the ear and forehead, and the family said scans revealed two brain haemorrhages.
Cassius was discharged from Perth Children's Hospital after five days, but had a seizure just hours later and returned to hospital.
There he underwent surgery and was placed into a medically induced coma before he died.
Those who know the family have said friends of the popular student are distraught.
Education Department Director General Lisa Rodgers said classmates and school staff were being offered help.
"I extend my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the young man who has tragically lost his life," she said.
"We are offering support to his fellow students and the school community during this extremely difficult time."
Vigils planned as nation mourns death
Mr Turvey's family has organised a GoFundMe that they have named #justiceforcassius, to cover costs for the boy's funeral and legal costs.
The 15-year-old's death comes a little more than a month after his father died with cancer.
A candlelight vigil has also been organised for 5:30pm at Midland Oval on Monday, coinciding with Halloween, which organisers have described as Cassius's favourite holiday.
The community is also planning to run vigils at various locations in Perth, regional WA and across the country on November 2.
Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe has also spoken in federal parliament about the death and said Aboriginal children should feel safe walking home.
"No black child should fear walking home from school," she said.
Minister expresses 'absolute sorrow'
WA's Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Tony Buti said he had also reached out to the Turvey family.
"I have made contact with people close to the family and expressed my absolute sorrow," he said.
"I think it's just a period of time that really we should be thinking about the family and that's what I'm focusing on now, and we'll be attending the vigil on Monday.
"I am the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, but I'm going just as an individual. I want to pay my respects and be with the family.
"My immediate concern is with the family and particularly Cassius's mother and that's where I want to focus my attention."
Police continue to build case
Police Minister Paul Papalia also spoke of the significant impact of what he said had been a "terrible tragedy".
"By all reports Cassius was a lovely boy, I can't imagine what his mum and family are going through," he said.
"Police are doing their job, and they're still building intelligence on what happened.
"It's a terrible thing, anybody would be feeling for the family at the moment, particularly his mum."
Mr Papalia also said police were doing all they could to support the family.
"These are horrible events when someone is lost under circumstances like this, but police do wrap support around, they have family liaison, and they support the family," he said.
He said he was unable to comment further on the investigation.
Mr Brearley has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on November 9.
'Community in shock', says MP
Labor MP Tania Lawrence, who represents the jurisdiction where the alleged attack took place, gave an emotional address to parliament, calling the teenager's death a "tragedy".
"This terrible event leaves our community in shock; we are witnessing an outpouring of sadness and grief and my heart goes out to Cassius's mother and family and friends who are directly affected," she said.
Ms Lawrence said the 15 year-old had been described by friends as someone they looked up to.
"He went to school, he had a lawn mowing round," she said.
"At the age of 11, he was invited to give an acknowledgement of country at the WA Parliament.
"He was connected to his community and was ready to take on the world."
