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Cassius Turvey murder accused Aleesha Gilmore, Mitchell Forth, Brodie Palmer face court

Three people charged with the murder of schoolboy Cassius Turvey will remain behind bars after appearing in a Perth court on Friday.

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains an image of a person who has died.

Aleesha Louise Gilmore, 20, Mitchell Colin Forth, 24 and Brodie Lee Palmer, 27, were not required to enter a plea on Friday to one count each of murder.

The trio were required to speak only to confirm their name and had their charges each read to them.

But Mr Palmer's lawyer foreshadowed his client would enter a plea of not guilty at a future court date.

He was dressed in a black singlet and black shorts, while Mr Forth was wearing hi-vis work clothing.

Meanwhile, the court heard from Ms Gilmore via telephone.

Magistrate Sarah Oliver was told she had been in hospital and had yet to speak with a lawyer.

Members of Cassius' family, including his mother Mechelle, were present in court this morning with at least a dozen cramming into the small courtroom’s public gallery.

More were waiting outside the courthouse, holding signs up with pictures of 15-year-old Cassius.

Ms Gilmore, Mr Palmer and Mr Forth have been remanded in custody until their next scheduled appearance in the Stirling Gardens Supreme Court on March 29.

Allegations not aired

Cassius died in October, 10 days after he was allegedly attacked while walking with a group of friends after school.

He sustained serious head injuries in the alleged attack and died after being readmitted to hospital.

Police at the time charged 21-year-old Jack Steven James Brearley with unlawful wounding but later upgraded that to a charge of murder.

He will also next appear in court with the other three accused in March.

None of the allegations about what happened that day have yet been presented in court.

Hundreds mourned Cassius Turvey at his funeral in November and celebrated his life.

Cassius’s death caused deep unease in Perth's north-eastern suburbs, particularly among Indigenous families.

There were questions asked whether race played a role in the alleged attack on the group of Indigenous teens.

Rallies, vigils held

His death sparked rallies and vigils around the country calling for an end to violence.

At the time WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch urged the community to refrain from "unfounded speculation" and the WA Premier stressed the legal process should be allowed to take its course.

A look at the Cassius Turvey vigils held across Australia.

Mechelle Turvey has since called for calm and for the community to focus on the welfare of children in the community.

She has accepted a voluntary advisory role with WA Police after raising concerns the other children with Cassius at the time of the incident were left to find their own way home after being interviewed by police.

Grieving relatives attend court

Outside court, Ms Turvey spoke of the challenges her family was facing grieving for Cassius.

"It's not just about a court date, you know, this is every day for us mob here," she said.

"We take each day as it is, and every hour can change. Sometimes we have a bit of a laugh, and then something happens but like I said, we all grieve differently.

"But one thing that we can definitely all stand on is we stick together as family and as friends and as a community as well.

"This is just one step forward to justice for Cassius and it's also one step forward for all of our healing all of his family as well."

Cassius’s cousin Jayana May, came to court on Friday to support their family including her aunty Mechelle Turvey.

"We want to see justice for Cassius," she said.

"We just want healing and it will help our grief.

"Now that it's (more charges laid) happened, me and my family it’s helping us with our healing at the moment.”

"I remember him as a good boy, very respectful, never said anything wrong to anyone. He was always happy, full of life."

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