Cassius Turvey: studious, joyful and proud – a nation mourns a young life taken

When Cassius Turvey was 13 he cut the lawns of two houses in his own Perth suburb. The next time he headed out with friends he mowed 15 lawns.

It was the start of a business that would see him drag the family lawn mower to more and more houses.

"Later he asked me the question: 'Because we made some money, mum, do I have to pay tax?'" Michelle Turvey said this week in a statement read out at vigils across the country. "I thought that was so funny. He was thinking like a business person at such a tender age."

Cassius was attacked on 13 October in Middle Swan when walking home from school with friends. The Indigenous teenager died 10 days later in hospital. He was 15 and about to start working at Kmart, his mother revealed. "He wanted to work. He was so keen to learn more."

Mechelle Turvey spoke proudly about her son at Perth's vigil on Wednesday. Reading from one of Cassius's school report cards she said: "Cassius takes pride in his work and often contributes to his peers' successes."

Parents, school friends and teachers all say Cassius helped others with their schoolwork so they could all succeed. This week they have all been united in grief and anger. The local community, and the nation, have grappled with his senseless death.

A 21-year-old man has been charged with murder after the attack on Cassius and his friends. WA police have said they are investigating allegations of racial slurs being used but have made clear they are not speculating about possible reasons for the alleged murder. They have said they believe a metal pole was used in the assault.