Vigilantes force family to flee home in shocking case of mistaken identity
Vigilantes have forced a terrified Perth family from their home in a shocking case of mistaken identity.
Video of a dog being hit in the face with a thong went viral after it emerged on Snapchat.
Social media users wanted those responsible for abusing the animal to pay and someone posted the address of the people believed to be involved in Quinns Rocks, north of Perth’s CBD.
“This b***** house is getting f*****,” one user commented on Facebook.
“There will be no house left…”
But it turns out, they posted the wrong address and now the Ostler family, who claims they were never involved, have been forced out of their home after rocks and eggs were thrown at their house.
"We don't have a dog," Annette Ostler told Today Tonight.
Alan Ostler said the abuse is “disgusting and needs to stop”.
He’s described it as a “mob mentality” from Facebook which has spiralled “out of control”.
"We've been blamed for this video and it's not us," Mr Ostler said.
“It's just turned our life upside down completely.”
Ms Ostler described the video as “horrific” but asked for people to leave her and her family alone. She also detailed some of the threats the family have received.
"Things like, ‘we're going to slit your throat, we're going to come and take your dog’,” she said.
“We don't have a dog.
"A few days ago we were living our normal happy life in this house, feeling safe and going about our daily business and now we feel totally terrorised."
Mr Ostler said after seeing three cars blocking his driveway last week he decided to move the family out. They’ve been staying in a hotel ever since.
The family is also thousands of dollars out of pocket after paying insurance excesses for damage to their house, accommodation and lost wages.
Lawyer Aaron McDonald said the vigilantes could face jail time.
"Inciting that offence to somebody else would carry the same penalty as the criminal damage offence, so in this case that's potentially up to three years imprisonment or a fine of $36,000,” he said.
Mr McDonald said the person behind the Facebook page who published the family’s address could also be liable for defamation.
“I think the key point to take away is that with all Facebook posts you need to make sure that they're factually accurate (and) they contain the truth,” he said.
