When someone is charged with or convicted of a crime, there are protocols in the news media to ensure there is no mistaken identity.
The person’s full name, age and suburb or town need to be recorded.
As was the case when 38-year-old Corowa man, Aaron Patrick Patterson was recently charged over the alleged supply of methylamphetamine and firearms.
Aaron Patterson is not a particularly common name, and the chances of there being two in a small town are pretty slim, except in this case it happened.
There are two Aaron Patterson’s, and according to those on our Facebook post who jumped to his defence, the innocent Aaron in this case is the owner of Aaron Patterson Electrical in Wahgunyah, and by all accounts he’s a hardworking and respected young man.
The Free Press understands that this is not the first time he’s had to defend his good name; and for the record, both men live in Rutherglen, not Corowa as reported by police.
Aaron could not be contacted this morning, but I am truly sorry for the upset this has caused him and his family.
Christine McKee
Editor, The Free Press
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