Sydney gangster Neddy Smith killed playboy punter Mark Johnston: inquest

Sydney’s most infamous gangster Arthur ‘Neddy’ Smith was the likely killer of a playboy punter who died at his lawyer’s house more than three decades ago.

Sydney’s most infamous gangster Arthur ‘Neddy’ Smith was the likely killer of a playboy punter who died at his lawyer’s house but his body was never found.

Police visited Smith in hospital two years ago and wanted to charge him with the murder of Mark Johnston, who went missing in 1986, an inquest heard on Wednesday.

Detectives visited Smith in Prince of Wales Hospital in February 2021 and questioned him over Johnston’s death.

A feeble Smith denied his involvement although police asked the DPP to charge him.

An inquest into Johnston’s death, held at Lidcome Coroner’s Court, heard that Smith was believed to be the killer.

Johnson’s body wasn’t located at the time, but bones found at the desalination plant at Kurnell in 2007 were confirmed as his after a DNA match with his sister Diana.

Neddy Smith

An inquest found model Mark Johnston was likely killed by gangster Neddy Smith.

The court heard that parts of Johnston’s tibia, jaw and four teeth, as well as other bones, were found.

Police have long believed that solicitor Val Bellamy, who is now deceased, was meant to give Johnson $60,000 he was holding for him, but Bellamy had lost it at the races.

Earlier inquests had heard that Bellamy, who lived in Dover Heights, is believed to have said to Smith “Don’t leave blood on my wife’s carpet”.

Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan delivered her finding saying she was satisfied Johnston died on 1 September 1986 at Dover Heights and was the victim of a homicide by a known person.

His exact cause of death was not established.

No one from Johnston’s family attended the inquest.