Woman cleared of Cassius Turvey's murder avoids jail for driving with no licence

Aleesha Gilmore, who was found not guilty of murdering 15-year-old Cassius Turvey, has avoided immediate jail time for driving without a license. Gilmore had previously been convicted of assaulting a teenager and unlawfully detaining two others in the days before Turvey's death.

In June 2025, she received a 15-month suspended prison sentence for those offenses, requiring her to adhere to strict community conditions. The recent court appearance was related to an alleged breach of this order, stemming from a driving without a license charge.

According to state prosecutor Benjamin Stanwix, Gilmore lost her license in December 2025 after being caught driving under the influence of alcohol, with a blood alcohol level of 0.098. Although she was fined and disqualified at the time, she was later convicted of driving without a license and received an additional nine-month disqualification.

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I appreciate given your notoriety it makes it more difficult for you to obtain work. But that's not a reason to give up.

Despite the breach, the state did not seek immediate imprisonment, emphasizing the importance of rehabilitation. Gilmore's lawyer noted her compliance with the suspended sentence's terms, including counseling and program attendance, and her efforts to find work.

Chief Justice Peter Quinlan acknowledged Gilmore's notoriety, stating it would likely make obtaining work difficult. However, he stressed that this was not a reason to give up and that she needed to remain on the "straight and narrow." While satisfied that immediate imprisonment would be unjust given she was halfway through her suspended sentence, he warned her to stay out of trouble.

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a soft touch