Benjamin Cohen, the student falsely accused of being the perpetrator of the Bondi Junction stabbing, has enlisted the services of esteemed barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC.
Ms. Chrysanthou has an extensive track record in high-profile cases, having represented individuals such as Heston Russell, Christian Porter, and Lisa Wilkinson.
Cohen's solicitor, Patrick George of Giles George Law Firm, will also be pursuing damages on his behalf. "We have issued a concerns notice to Channel 7 today," George stated to ABC News.
An investigation by ABC News revealed that the mistaken identification initially surfaced online on Saturday afternoon. It was then amplified by various accounts on X (previously known as Twitter) after the attack.
By the following morning at 6:15am, Channel 7 News had named Cohen as the "40-year-old lone wolf attacker." A spokesperson for 7 News acknowledged to ABC News that the "error was human error and has been rectified." The network expressed sincere apologies.
Subsequently, NSW Police identified the true perpetrator as 40-year-old Joel Cauchi, who was fatally shot by an officer inside the Bondi Junction Westfield. Authorities are currently investigating Cauchi's background, as he had recently traveled to Sydney from Queensland.
Cohen expressed his disappointment in the incident, highlighting the severe consequences that can arise from the reckless spread of misinformation.
Channel 7 has 28 days to respond to the defamation claim.