$1m reward being offered for gay hate death of Scott Johnson at North Head

The reward for information regarding the death of a man at North Head exactly 30 years ago has been increased tenfold to $1 million.

There is a $1m reward for information to help solve the gay hate death of Scott Johnson.

• Calls for gate hate death of Scott Johnson to be re-examined
• Coroner find s Scott Johnson was killed in a gay hate attack

The reward for information regarding the death of a man at North Head exactly 30 years ago has been increased tenfold to $1 million.

The naked body of Scott Johnson, 27, an American national based in Sydney and Canberra, was found at the foot of the cliff south of Shelly Beach Headland by fishermen on December 10, 1988.

A coronial inquest in 1989 found Mr Johnson had committed suicide, a second inquest in 2012 returning an open finding and a third inquest in 2017 found that he fell from the top of the cliff as a result of actual or threatened violence by unidentified persons who attacked him because they perceived him to be homosexual.

Steve Johnson looks over the cliff at North Head where his brother Scott's body was found in 1988.

In September 2018, the case was referred to a specialist investigative team, which is conducting fresh inquiries into Mr Johnson’s death under Strike Force Welsford.

On Sunday Police Commissioner Mick Fuller announced that the reward for information in the Mr Johnson case has been increased to $1 million.

Also present at Sunday’s announcement was Mr Johnson’s brother, Steve, who said he never believed his younger brother had killed himself.

He said that whoever was involved in his brother’s death could have bragged about it to others involved in gay-hate crimes in the 1980s and 90s and urged anyone with information to contact the police.

Scott Johnson, right, with his older brother Steve.

“It is very likely more than one person was involved in the gay-hate crime that ended my brother’s life,” Mr Johnson said.

“Someone knows what happened to Scott, either because they were present or because they heard of what happened from others who were present.

“It is likely that those who were involved in Scott’s death would have bragged about it, given the culture of gay hate amongst groups in Sydney at the time.

“It’s 30 years to the day since Scott’s death. I encourage anyone who has any information to come forward and provide it.

“Do this for Scott, do this for all gay men who were subject to gay hate, and now, do it for yourself.”

Steve and Scott Johnson.

Police Minister Troy Grant said the government was committed to providing police with the resources needed to solve crime and deliver justice for victims.

“There are currently more than 240 NSW Government rewards on offer in NSW, and with today’s increase, seven of those are for $1 million,” he said.

“We are pleased to be able to offer this reward and I hope it finally leads to the answers that Scott’s family have been seeking.”

Police Commissioner Fuller welcomed the reward and thanked the government for its ongoing support.

“Rewards play an important role in many investigative strategies and can also be that final motivation needed for someone to speak with police,” he said.

“This case captured the attention of people around the world and has certainly stayed in the hearts and minds of the LGBTIQ community, and to keep the investigation progressing, we need people to talk to us.

“Scott’s death is possibly one of the most challenging investigations I’ve seen – and it’s believed one of the greatest hindrances has been an unwillingness for witnesses to come forward.

“This reward gives us an opportunity to appeal to those who know what happened to Scott but may have been reluctant to talk to detectives.”