Perth:
A man on trial for the kidnapping of a four-year-old girl from a remote Australian campsite confessed to her kidnapping on Monday, a surprising development in the case that has attracted worldwide attention.
Cleo Smith disappeared from her family’s tent in Western Australia in October, sparking a major search operation that many feared would end in tragedy.
But the little girl was found 18 days later alone in a locked house in the coastal town of Carnarvon, a short drive from where she went missing.
Her accused kidnapper, Terence Darrell Kelly, pleaded guilty Monday to stealing children via a video link from prison.
Other charges have been postponed, including a new charge of assaulting a police officer.
When the single charges were brought against him, Kelly simply said, “Guilty.”
Kelly, 36, was held in custody until his next appearance in March, when a date can be set for his conviction and details of Cleo’s kidnapping are expected to be revealed.
He would have acted alone and the police say they have no connection with the family.
The case made headlines around the world and brought great relief when Cleo was discovered and reunited with her parents in early November.
Police quickly detained Kelly on a nearby street and he was taken into custody after his first appearance in court.
Bail was not taken into account when Kelly returned to court last month.
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