Australia CLEO SMITH: Missing from Blowholes Campground, Carnarvon, WA - 16 Oct 2021 - Age 4 *Found Alive**GUILTY PLEA*

Search continues for missing girl in WA

The disappearance of a four-year-old girl from a WA campsite is "extremely concerning" and police say a search...

www.inverelltimes.com.au

Search continues for missing girl in WA​

The disappearance of a four-year-old girl from a WA campsite is "extremely concerning" and police say a search has yet to turn up any answers.

Cleo Smith was last seen about 1.30am on Saturday at the Blowholes campsite on the coast at Macleod, north of Carnarvon.

An air, land and sea search resumed on Sunday morning with help from the SES and community volunteers.

The girl was wearing a pink one-piece sleepsuit with a blue and yellow pattern when she was last seen.


Earlier, Ms Smith posted that she had woken at 6am on Saturday to find her daughter wasn't in their shared tent.

She described Cleo's disappearance as "very very unusual".

WA police Inspector Jon Munday said the family arrived in the area late on Friday afternoon.

Insp Munday said he was "fairly confident" police were able to get the identities of all the people who were in the campsite at the time she disappeared, as well as gathering intelligence from dashcams and CCTV cameras in the vicinity to "paint a picture of who was around here".

"We are greatly concerned for the safety of Cleo and we aren't leaving anything to chance or ruling anything out," Insp Munday said early on Sunday afternoon.

"We are going as hard as we can for as long as we can."

Insp Munday said detectives from Perth and Geraldton had arrived at the search area and despite the harsh environment, the weather was so far "conducive to someone surviving exposure to the elements", but there were still no answers or major breakthroughs in the search.


MEDIA - CLEO SMITH: Missing from Blowholes Campground, Carnarvon, WA since 16 Oct 2021 - Age 4

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

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Fresh charge laid against Cleo Smith’s alleged abductor months after arrest​

The man accused of abducting four-year-old Cleo Smith from her West Australian campsite will face court on a fresh charge.

Court listings indicate Terence Darrell Kelly, 36, has been charged by police with assaulting a public officer in Carnarvon on November 4 last year - the same date on which Kelly first faced court in relation to Cleo’s disappearance.

He is due to face Carnarvon Magistrates Court on January 24, where it’s expected details of the new charge will be revealed.

Kelly, who has been remanded in custody, is accused of taking Cleo from her family’s tent at the remote Blowholes campsite. He is facing multiple charges including forcibly taking a child under 16.

He is alleged to have acted alone and is yet to enter a plea to his charges.

 

[Kimster]

Heaping charges on this POS doesn’t hurt my feelings one bit.

 

[GrandmaBear]

It still bothers me that there allegedly was a woman this child saw. It may well be the woman though that helped crack the case or reported something, who knows. I'm just saying as the case winds through the courts, I would expect to hear more about that or see that the person is a "witness" or something... The likelihood is it was someone close to him of course.

 

[Guess Who]

It still bothers me that there allegedly was a woman this child saw. It may well be the woman though that helped crack the case or reported something, who knows. I'm just saying as the case winds through the courts, I would expect to hear more about that or see that the person is a "witness" or something... The likelihood is it was someone close to him of course.

I wouldn't be surprised if the "lady" was him in disguise. Not saying it was, but would not be surprised AND they do not seem to be asking questions about this mysterious person.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I wouldn't be surprised if the "lady" was him in disguise. Not saying it was, but would not be surprised AND they do not seem to be asking questions about this mysterious person.

It is as possible as anything. I mean who knows what sick plans he had or if he used a disguise, etc. His parents or mother also lived nearby I believe. I forget if he had slblings or if we know but I don't recall any. And it could have also been a female friend of some type.

Like the new Australia case this past week where unfortunately she was not found alive, lots of questions yet in this one too. I have followed a couple of AU cases and learned a lot about their laws in one of them, but it isn't fresh any longer in my mind. I imagine like here more details will come out as the court process proceeds.

 

[kdg411]

Cleo Smith: Man pleads guilty to abducting 4-year-old girl in Australia | CNN

An Australian man accused of kidnapping 4-year-old Cleo Smith and keeping her captive for nearly three weeks last year pleaded guilty on Monday.

amp.cnn.com

 

[GrandmaBear]

Well good. I wonder what he is facing for time. It isn't a murder case.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Linda hasn't been on for awhile, her dad was in the hospital. This is a mix of cases but she has just a blip in it that the perp in this case has a stepbrother who recently abducted a 9 year old and was assaulting her and someone witnessed it or caught it and he was busted for it! About 4 minutes 45 seconds in.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Terence Kelly jailed for 13 years over kidnapping of Cleo Smith

Terence Kelly has been sentenced to a maximum of 13 years and six months behind bars for abducting then-four-year-old Cleo Smith from a WA campsite.

www.4bc.com.au

Terence Kelly jailed for 13 years over kidnapping of Cleo Smith​

05/04/2023

Terence Kelly has been sentenced to a maximum of 13 years and six months behind bars for abducting then-four-year-old Cleo Smith from a WA campsite.

The sentence was handed down on today by Perth District Court Chief Judge Julie Wager, with Cleo’s parents, Ellie Smith and Jake Gliddon, in court to hear the outcome.

The court heard the kidnapping wasn’t pre-meditated and Kelly was under the influence of methylamphetamine when he took Cleo from her family’s tent in October 2021.

Kelly will be eligible for parole after 11 years and six months.

6PR reporter Erin Harwood told Sofie Formica that Cleo listened to radio news reports about her disappearance while being held captive inside the 37-year-old’s home.

“Kelly actually locked Cleo in a bathroom and to drown out her cries for her mum, he turned on the radio,” Erin said.

“Cleo’s told police she heard her name in radio reports while she was in captivation.”

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Who will ever forget the beautiful face of Cleo Smith? She’s the courageous little girl who, in the middle of the night, was abducted from her parents’ tent at a remote Western Australian campsite. For 18 long days Australians and millions of people around the world held their breath, desperately hoping, though not really believing, that Cleo would be found safe and well. But she was, thanks to one of the most meticulous and determined police investigations ever undertaken.

In a 60 MINUTES exclusive, Tara Brown reports the untold story of Cleo Smith’s kidnapping and rescue. Brown speaks with Cleo’s parents, Ellie and Jake, to find out how their daughter is coping 19 months on from her horrifying ordeal. She also reveals dramatic new footage taken in the first few hours following Cleo’s disappearance, and uncovers extraordinary new insights into the case, all of which culminated at the moment she was found in the happiest four words ever heard from a four-year-old: “My name is Cleo.”

 

[GrandmaBear]

Terence Kelly jailed for 13 years over kidnapping of Cleo Smith

Terence Kelly has been sentenced to a maximum of 13 years and six months behind bars for abducting then-four-year-old Cleo Smith from a WA campsite.

www.4bc.com.au

Terence Kelly jailed for 13 years over kidnapping of Cleo Smith​

05/04/2023

Terence Kelly has been sentenced to a maximum of 13 years and six months behind bars for abducting then-four-year-old Cleo Smith from a WA campsite.

The sentence was handed down on today by Perth District Court Chief Judge Julie Wager, with Cleo’s parents, Ellie Smith and Jake Gliddon, in court to hear the outcome.

The court heard the kidnapping wasn’t pre-meditated and Kelly was under the influence of methylamphetamine when he took Cleo from her family’s tent in October 2021.

Kelly will be eligible for parole after 11 years and six months.

6PR reporter Erin Harwood told Sofie Formica that Cleo listened to radio news reports about her disappearance while being held captive inside the 37-year-old’s home.

“Kelly actually locked Cleo in a bathroom and to drown out her cries for her mum, he turned on the radio,” Erin said.

“Cleo’s told police she heard her name in radio reports while she was in captivation.”

Entirely disagree with this sentence and being on meth isn't an EXCUSE but a reason to have less distrust he won't do something again or something even worse.

Thank God this child is alive but it does NOT excuse the torment he put her and her parents through NOR does it mean he is some saint who did not kill her or never would a child or anyone else either.

This is a JOKE of a sentence. I guess jokes of sentences go on in most countries these days. But then when some murder convictions or time in prison aren't much more or even this much until up for parole what does one expect...

HOW did this become okay and who did it and not just in our nation but many? That defendants get no more than a slap on their gross wrist?

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Terence Kelly's sentence for abducting four-year-old Cleo Smith excessive, appeal court told

Terence Kelly's mental impairments, including severe personality dysfunction, contributed to his decision to abduct four-year-old Cleo Smith from her family's tent, his lawyers tell a WA court as they try to get his jail term reduced.

www.abc.net.au

Terence Kelly's appeal against sentence for Cleo Smith kidnapping sees lawyers seize on mental impairments​

Terence Kelly's mental impairments, including severe personality dysfunction, contributed to his decision to abduct four-year-old Cleo Smith from her family's tent, his lawyers have told a WA court as they try to get his jail term reduced.

The abduction case made headlines around the world when Cleo went missing for more than a fortnight in October 2021, prompting a massive land and sea search in outback Western Australia.

Kelly was not present in the WA Court of Appeal as his lawyers argued before three Supreme Court judges that the 13-year and six-month jail term he received was excessive.


Kelly's counsel, Julie Condon KC, began proceedings by saying the sentencing judge had erred by finding that Kelly's use of methamphetamine before and during the crime had "a significant and causal role in the offending".

Ms Condon said the judge had wrongly found that the use of the drug had "tipped him over the balance" into taking the child and keeping her.

That finding followed medical evidence which suggested the drugs may have emboldened Kelly and given him the courage to do what he did.

Ms Condon said drug use should not have been a critical factor in the sentencing process for her client, because what the judge found — that it was a causal role in the child stealing — was not supported by the evidence.

The appeal court heard Kelly has various mental impairments, including a severe personality dysfunction, and those impairments, rather than the drug use, were significant in the commission of the crime.

Kelly's lawyers also argued that the sentencing judge failed to give appropriate weight to his childhood disadvantage, deprivation and trauma.

She submitted the judge did not undertake a proper assessment of Kelly's background and the causal link it had to the impairments and neurological dysfunction he suffers.

State prosecutors opposed Kelly's appeal.

Lindsay Fox SC said the sentencing judge's findings about his drug use were consistent with the evidence before her and she appropriately considered Kelly's mental impairments and his deprived upbringing in determining the jail term.

The three appeal judges have reserved their decision.

 

[GrandmaBear]

EXCESSIVE SENTENCE? HE KIDNAPPED A CHILD!!!!!!! And I doubt we know or ever will the WHOLE of what she went through. The drug use doesn't matter but his deprivation in childhood does... As is true in almost all cases he hid what he did and KNEW IT WAS WRONG.

@Mel70 I'm calling you to go off on this one!! THsi man goes 13 YEARS after he did the worst of the worst and again it is the POOR POOR PERP, NOT THE VICTIM nor their family. And so what about when he does it next time if a further shortened sentence? What WAS he going to do with her and to her if not found and I might add what a GREAT JOB BY LE. The judge did right here OTHER THAN TOO SHORT of a sentence but perhaps there wasn't much leeway, no idea, don't recall but IF what this defense is saying can be agreed to then their system may be worse than OURS.

What does it mean the three appeal judges "have reserved their decision"?

STate prosecutors of course opposed his appeal. THey are doing their job and good for them. Reserved their decision? For what and when? WTF does that mean?

 

[Mel70]

Terence Kelly's sentence for abducting four-year-old Cleo Smith excessive, appeal court told

Terence Kelly's mental impairments, including severe personality dysfunction, contributed to his decision to abduct four-year-old Cleo Smith from her family's tent, his lawyers tell a WA court as they try to get his jail term reduced.

www.abc.net.au

Terence Kelly's appeal against sentence for Cleo Smith kidnapping sees lawyers seize on mental impairments​

Terence Kelly's mental impairments, including severe personality dysfunction, contributed to his decision to abduct four-year-old Cleo Smith from her family's tent, his lawyers have told a WA court as they try to get his jail term reduced.

The abduction case made headlines around the world when Cleo went missing for more than a fortnight in October 2021, prompting a massive land and sea search in outback Western Australia.

Kelly was not present in the WA Court of Appeal as his lawyers argued before three Supreme Court judges that the 13-year and six-month jail term he received was excessive.


Kelly's counsel, Julie Condon KC, began proceedings by saying the sentencing judge had erred by finding that Kelly's use of methamphetamine before and during the crime had "a significant and causal role in the offending".

Ms Condon said the judge had wrongly found that the use of the drug had "tipped him over the balance" into taking the child and keeping her.

That finding followed medical evidence which suggested the drugs may have emboldened Kelly and given him the courage to do what he did.

Ms Condon said drug use should not have been a critical factor in the sentencing process for her client, because what the judge found — that it was a causal role in the child stealing — was not supported by the evidence.

The appeal court heard Kelly has various mental impairments, including a severe personality dysfunction, and those impairments, rather than the drug use, were significant in the commission of the crime.

Kelly's lawyers also argued that the sentencing judge failed to give appropriate weight to his childhood disadvantage, deprivation and trauma.

She submitted the judge did not undertake a proper assessment of Kelly's background and the causal link it had to the impairments and neurological dysfunction he suffers.

State prosecutors opposed Kelly's appeal.

Lindsay Fox SC said the sentencing judge's findings about his drug use were consistent with the evidence before her and she appropriately considered Kelly's mental impairments and his deprived upbringing in determining the jail term.

The three appeal judges have reserved their decision.

WTF?!!!! REALLY?!!! ALWAYS F***ING EXCUSES!!! 13 YEARS ISN'T JACK SH*T FOR KIDNAPPING!!!! AHHH!!!!

 

[Guess Who]

https://www.news.com.au/national/crime/cleo-smiths-parents-share-heartwarming-update-three-years-after-horror-kidnapping/news-story/e67e6b1988f0d7eff681bfe0d5887c9d

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/crime/cleo-smiths-abductor-terence-kelly-fails-bid-to-lower-sentence-three-years-after-taking-the-young-girl-from-a-remote-wa-campsite/news-story/4efb494271e4319ad012972a4866502a

Cleo Smith's abductor Terence Kelly fails bid to lower sentence three years after taking the young girl from a remote WA campsite​

Terence Kelly, who abducted four-year-old Cleo Smith in 2021, will have his sentence upheld and will be jailed for 13-and-a-half years.

Kelly’s lawyers appealed his sentence in the WA Court of Appeal, but ultimately lost the battle.

The state’s highest court, headed by a panel of three Supreme Court justices, dismissed the case having unanimously agreed on three out of the four grounds of appeal.

WA’s Director of Public Prosecutions said an appeal would not overturn Kelly’s sentence as it was not manifestly inadequate, with prosecutors arguing Judge Wager’s findings were consistent with the evidence presented.



Although the three judges agreed on three grounds of appeal and disagreed on the fourth, Justice Bass said he would have granted Kelly’s appeal on the grounds the sentence was "manifestly excessive", and would have reduced his time behind bars to 12 years.

On the other hand, Justices Stephen Hall and Robert Mazza dismissed ground four and found Kelly’s abduction of “such a young and highly vulnerable child” from her parents at night, before holding her captive for almost three weeks was “extraordinarily serious”.

"As tragic as the appellant's background is, the sad fact remains that his risk of reoffending required that the sentence imposed upon him have regard to the sentencing objective of public protection,” they said.

The justices said Kelly’s childhood trauma and mental impairments “pulled both ways”, adding his drug use contributed to the offending and he posed a “well above average risk of reoffending”.

“Should that risk eventuate, there is a high risk he would inflict serious psychological harm on any future victim," they said.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I don't see how any of the justices can even think 13.5 yrs is enough for what this man did. It's a joke imo of a sentence and that one would even considering lowering it is even more ridiculous.