Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said what WA authorities have not in labelling the death of Noongar Yamatji boy Cassius Turvey (above) as racially motivated.

“We are a better country than that, and my heart goes out to the family and the friends,” he told reporters on Friday. “This attack, that clearly is racially motivated, just breaks your heart.”

The Prime Minister’s comments follow anger from local Indigenous leaders on Friday morning, who are hurt the state government and WA Police are downplaying the ‘racist’ implications of the 15-year-old’s death.

Tap PLAY to hear Indigenous leaders on the reaction

Nyoongar custodian and founding member of Reconciliation WA, Jim Morrison, told Liam Bartlett on 6PR Mornings that Indigenous leaders had written to the McGowan government about official reaction to Cassius’ death.

“If the deceased was a white boy set upon by adult Aboriginal men, would it be seen differently?” he said.

Police say Cassius was allegedly beaten senseless with a metal pole in a possible case of mistaken identity while walking home from school in Middle Swan.

Jack Brearley, 21, who has been charged with the Indigenous teenager’s murder, on Friday was facing two more charges, aggravated assault occasioning bodily harm and stealing.

Statements earlier this week by WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch on 6PR Breakfast sparked anger, when he said police were investigating whether the tragedy was a vigilante attack gone horribly wrong but did not speculate on the potential motive.

On Friday he said he regretted the impact of his words.

Tap PLAY to hear the Police Commissioner’s comments this week

“It may be a case of mistaken identity, it may be a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but I wouldn’t want anyone in the community to jump to any conclusions at this time other than that we have charged a person,” he told host Gareth Parker on Wednesday.

“We’re not operating on any principles of racism or motivation at this point, other than to say we believe there was a damage incident that occurred, and that’s resulted in the [alleged] murder of a very young boy.

“I do understand the high public interest, this is a devastating outcome to have a young boy killed on the streets in Western Australia, it’s absolutely horrific.”

WA Premier Mark McGowan on Thursday urged caution, after a jury earlier that day was dismissed in the trial of Bruce Lehrmann, accused of raping Brittany Higgins in Parliament House.

“It’s before the courts, courts will decide these things,” McGowan said regarding the alleged murder of Cassius.

“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.”