Cleo Smith kidnapper Terence Kelly appeals prison sentence
Terence Kelly was found guilty of snatching the then four-year-old girl Cleo Smith from her family’s tent near Carnarvon in October 2021.
The man convicted of kidnapping Cleo Smith in Western Australia’s Pilbara region has lodged an appeal against his sentence.
Terence Kelly was found guilty of snatching the then four-year-old girl from her family’s tent near Carnarvon on October 2021.
The 37-year-old held Cleo at his Carnarvon home for 18 days before she was rescued in a daring early-morning police raid.
Lawyers for Kelly recently lodged documents with WA’s Court of Appeals, arguing sentencing District Court Judge Julie Wager was wrong to believe Kelly’s methamphetamine use played a significant role in the crime.
They also argued Judge Wager didn’t give the appropriate weight to Kelly’s childhood trauma.
The state’s Department of Public Prosecutions said they do not intent to appeal Kelly’s sentence, forming “the view that appealing the length of sentence imposed would not be successful as the sentence is not manifestly inadequate.
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“Consequently, the State will not be lodging an appeal against sentence.”
It was revealed in sentencing that Kelly was under the influence of methamphetamine when he decided to abduct Cleo.
Judge Wager reasoned Kelly had entered Cleo’s family tent to steal valuables, but decided to kidnap the girl due to his drug-induced state.