French Backpacker Faces Knife Charges | Sydney News

A 25-year-old French backpacker, Leo Raymund Cotene, faces serious charges after allegedly hugging an Israeli man at a Cairns hostel despite being told not to, then pulling out a 20cm knife and making heated anti-Israeli remarks. The incident erupted from a group chat where a photo of the Israeli man was shared, and Cotene reportedly suggested confronting him outside the hostel. His lawyer argues the comments targeted nationality, not religion, and highlights Cotene’s clean record and construction background. Despite these claims, the magistrate denied bail, citing the deliberate nature of the alleged actions and potential for a prison sentence. Cotene remains in custody until his next court date in September. This case underscores how global tensions can collide in unexpected places like backpacker hostels. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/e519795c5d091a08