Man threatens defamation against Seven following a false identification as Bondi Junction killer

Seven is facing another legal case after Sunrise incorrectly named a UTS student as the man who killed six people at Bondi Junction Westfield.

Sunrise named “40-year-old Benjamin Cohen” on Sunday morning with the name appeared on the Seven website, on its YouTube channel. The name had been incorrectly circulating on social media.

NSW Police later named by Queensland man Joel Cauchi as the man responsible. He was shot dead by a female police officer.

A Seven spokesperson later said: “The mistake was human error. It was escalated immediately and rectified. Seven sincerely apologises for the error.”

Mr Cohen told news.com.au he has engaged top lawyer Patrick George and barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC, who has previously counselled Heston Russell, Christian Porter and Lisa Wilkinson.

Asked whether he would also seek damages from anyone online who wrongly named Mr Cohen, Mr George said his clients were only “proceeding against Channel 7 at this stage.”

Seven has 28 days to respond following a concerns notice issued today.