WRONGLY ACCUSED ABDUCTOR OF CLEO SMITH TO FILE DEFAMATION AGAINST THE SEVEN NETWORK

Terrence Kelly (right) with his partner and child after suffering from misidentification

The man who was wrongly identified by media outlets as the initial abductor of Cleo Smith says he will sue for defamation.

Karratha local, Terrence Flowers also shared his mother’s surname ‘Kelly’, which happens to be the same name belonging to the alleged perpetrator of the 4-year-old’s kidnapping from the Blowholes Campsite on October 16th.

7 News Brisbane posted Mr Flowers’ Facebook account, along with photos of the man to their social media account, leading to Mr Flowers being inundated with abuse and death threats.

“Once I was sent the screenshot….I got a bit upset” said Mr Flowers, revealing he suffered some severe distress during the ordeal.

His lawyer, Stewart O’Connell is gob-smacked on how a mistake could have been made.

I do personally find it incredible that a major media company would publish a photo of someone connecting them to this particular matter and given, how prominent it is in the country and in the world without them being 100% absolutely certain that they had the right person. I find it incredible.

Terrence Darrell Kelly from Carnarvon was officially charged this week with the abduction and was flown to Perth on Friday afternoon to spend time at a maximum-security prison before his next court date in December.

The Seven Network did issue an apology to Mr Flowers and took down the social media post.