7News Spotlight: update

Seven has extended an episode of 7News Spotlight to screen on Sunday, doubling its length with a story on Ben Besan, the former NSW Police Tactical Operations Unit Officer who took down terrorist Man Monis at the Lindt Cafe in 2014.

For the past decade he has only been known as’ ‘Officer A.’  Yesterday the NSW Coroner’s Court, lifted a suppression order which had prevented him from ever publicly telling his story.

This Sunday, Besant will for the very first time share his experience of the moment he came face-to-face with evil and the emotional devastation he endured in the wake of the tragedy.

Speaking to 7NEWS Chief Reporter Chris Reason, Besant explained how the suppression order has fuelled the PTSD which cost him his career, marriage and home: “I’m never one to walk away from a fight, and I have been fighting for a long time to have my name returned to me and all the things I can bring and offer to people who suffer from the same condition.

“That’s what I’ve been fighting so hard for – to be allowed to share my name and my story and put my name to my story. It’s become such a big issue for me to be able to get my name back, and without you and Channel 7 that wouldn’t have happened.”

Reason, who watched the entire siege unfold from Seven’s former Martin Place headquarters, said of the court ruling: “This is a stunning victory for Ben Besant. He has fought for years to have his identity released, and finally the courts have backed him.

“7NEWS is proud to have helped him finally get his identity back. It means the world to him and gives him the power to do what he has longed to do – help others who are grappling with enormous trauma of PTSD.”

A five-part podcast series Lindt Siege: The Untold Story will be released.

A story on a ”TikTok Killer’ will follow in the extended episode.

7pm Sunday on Seven.