Seven settles defamation case after naming wrong man in Bondi Junction attacks

Benjamin Cohen, the man mistakenly identified by Sunrise as the person responsible for the Bondi Junction stabbing attack, has settled his defamation case against Seven.

His name was broadcast at 6.05am and 6.15am. Seven did not air his name again but made attempts to find a contact number for Cohen, which it did not have until his mother contacted the Seven newsroom.

“Seven accepts the identification was a grave mistake and that these assertions were entirely false and without basis,” new Seven Managing Director Jeff Howard said in a statement to Mr Cohen.

He said Seven “withdraws the false allegations unreservedly and apologises to you for the harm you and your family have suffered as a result of Seven’s statements about you”.

Howard added. “Seven’s staff, including especially its on-air presenters Mr Shirvington and Ms McLeod, are devastated that the error was made and that it has affected you.”

The error originated at the producer level and the presenters were in no way involved in “scripting the words” which were published.

Seven apologised on air for the error after NSW Police named 40-year-old Joel Cauchi from Queensland.

In a statement, Mr Cohen said people online who “target individuals or communities should be held accountable for the consequences of their actions, and platforms should be more accountable for the content they host”.

Patrick George, who was acting on behalf of Mr Cohen, said in a statement the terms of settlement are confidential.

Source: ABC, Brisbane Times