Abduction of Cleo Smith
Misidentification of suspect
### Misidentification of suspect

On 3 November 2021, media outlet *[Seven News](/wiki/Seven_News "Seven News")* named the wrong person as Cleo's alleged abductor, retracting and apologising later that day. The person misidentified claimed that the incident led to him receiving death threats and required him to undergo medical treatment following a severe [panic attack](/wiki/Panic_attack "Panic attack"); in response he planned to sue Seven for defamation. The defamation case was resolved in February 2022, with Seven West Media agreeing to pay out a settlement deal.


Can someone be sued for reporting a potential crime before verifying the suspect's identity?