Channel 7 has reached a confidential settlement with Benjamin Cohen, wrongly named as the Bondi killer

The media company has settled with 20-year-old university student Benjamin Cohen after wrongly naming him as the Westfield Bondi Junction mass murderer.

Channel 7 has reached a confidential settlement with a 20-year-old university student after the network wrongly identified him as the Bondi Junction mass murderer.

Benjamin Cohen, a first-year student at the University of Technology, Sydney, engaged law firm Giles George after he was wrongly named multiple times as the Westfield Bondi killer on Seven’s Weekend Sunrise program.

On Friday the law firm confirmed the matter was resolved and in a statement, principal Patrick George who was representing Mr Cohen said: “The terms of the settlement are otherwise confidential.”

Under the NSW Defamation Act it can attract damages up to $459,000.

Mr Cohen was seeking an apology, compensation and costs for serious harm after high-profile Sunrise presenter Matt Shirvington and another reporter, Lucy McLeod incorrectly named him as the murderer.

The student also received a lengthy written apology from Seven West Media managing director and chief executive officer Jeff Howard this week.

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

“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.”

Channel 7 named Benjamin Cohen as the "40-year-old lone wolf attacker" early on Sunday morning.

Mr Cohen was named as the wrong man who killed six people at the Sydney shopping centre on April 13, and not the actual killer, 40-year-old Joel Cauchi.

The student’s name had been circulating on social media including X, formerly Twitter, in the lead up to the mistake being aired.

Shirvington and reporter Lucy McLeod both wrongly named Mr Cohen during the Sunday morning broadcast at 6.05am AEST and 6.15am respectively.
NSW police did not name Cauchi as the culprit until about 8.34am that morning.

Mr Howard said after the error became apparent Mr Cohen’s name was no longer broadcast and he also conceded the network had difficulty in contacting him about the mistake.

“Seven made attempts to find a contact number for you but did not have one until your mother rang the newsroom,” he said in the letter.

An internal investigation has also been launched to find out who is responsible for the error that led to it being broadcast on air several times.

Mr Howard also said in his letter to Mr Cohen that Shirvington and McLeod “are devastated that the error was made and that it has affected you.

“Both Mr Shirvington and Ms McLeod nevertheless wish to offer their own personal apology to you for the hurt and distress caused.

“While Seven does not suggest that it is relevant to your reaction, we nevertheless note that the staff members involved are deeply remorseful and traumatised by the mistake.”

At the time of the mistaken name being aired a Seven spokesman said it was due to “human error.”

Mr Cohen said in a statement: “Users who abuse a platform to 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.”

Mr George also said the law firm has been instructed to contact the Police Commissioner concerning the “conduct of certain persons on social media who originated, agitated or facilitated this dangerous and harmful accusation.”

Originally published as Channel 7 has reached a confidential settlement with Benjamin Cohen, wrongly named as the Bondi killer