In 2013, John Peros’ former girlfriend Shandee Blackburn, aged 23, was left to die after she was attacked on her walk home from work in Queensland’s Mackay, suffering 23 stab and slash wounds to her face, neck, chest and arm.
Peros was found not guilty of her murder in 2017 and has ever since declared his innocence.
However, a 2020 inquest conducted by coroner David O’Connell concluded Peros did in fact kill Blackburn but found no “fresh and compelling evidence” required to charge him with murder under Queensland’s double jeopardy laws at the time.
Peros has recently filed to sue Nationwide News as publishers of The Australian, Shandee’s sister Shannah Blackburn, and investigative journalist Hedley Thomas over comments made in the Shandee’s Story podcast.
Peros stated episode 13 of the true crime podcast, in which Shannah Blackburn confirmed her belief in the coroner’s findings and ultimately Peros’ guilt, was detrimental to his reputation by implying he murdered Shandee.
At a hearing before judge Peter Applegarth on Monday, July 29, the consensus was that no further damage was made to Peros’ reputation as the coroner’s findings was public information.
Peros’ barrister David Helvadjian said that the over 380,000 listeners “reached a concluded view that the plaintiff was a murderer.”
The Supreme Court hearing is expected to continue today.
Source: The Australian.
