Scott Johnson inquest: Coroner finds 1988 death was gay hate attack

FOR years the family and friends of Scott Johnson have waited for this. Now a coroner has reached a decision on why the popular 27-year-old died.

Scott Johnson’s death was the result of gay hate, a Coroner has found.

ALMOST three decades after Scott Johnson’s body was found at the base of a Sydney cliff, the NSW state coroner has found he died as a result of a gay hate attack.

Spear fishermen found the 27-year-old American mathematician’s naked body near Blue Fish Point at Manly’s North Head in December 1988.

Since then there have been three inquests into his death.

Today, Coroner Michael Barnes said: “Mr Johnson fell from the cliff top as a result of actual or threatened violence by unidentified persons who attacked him because they perceived him to be homosexual.”

Mr Barnes handed down his findings following the third inquest at the NSW coroner’s court in Glebe in Sydney.

The first inquest in 1989 found Mr Johnson died by suicide. A subsequent inquest in 2012 returned an open finding.

Mr Barnes found it likely more than one person set upon the “young and strong and fit” Mr Johnson while he was at the known gay beat.

“Homicide is more likely than either of the other two scenarios — accident or suicide,” he said.

The coroner said while the mathematician died as a result of a gay hate attack there was insufficient evidence to identify the perpetrators. Mr Barnes praised the commitment of Mr Johnson’s family who continued to push for the circumstances of his death to be examined.

“Their belief that not all relevant information had been put before the previous inquests has been vindicated,” he said.

Mr Barnes also criticised the initial police investigation as inadequate. “Regrettably, those responsible for the initial investigation quickly jumped to conclusions without thoroughly and impartially examining all the facts,” he said.

By the time numerous mistakes were recognised it was too late to properly test the evidence to find the truth, he added.

The coroner made no recommendations concerning the police, saying he was satisfied police procedures had improved in the intervening decades.

He said the unsolved case would remain open but he declined to make any recommendations for further investigation.

A NSW Police statement said the findings were being reviewed.

“The Homicide Squad’s Strike Force Macnamir conducted an exhaustive investigation over the past four years and presented all available evidence to the Coroner in this matter,” the statement read.

“While the Coroner has not made a recommendation for further investigation, we understand the frustration of Mr Johnson’s family, who have sought the answers to his death. We reiterate, the case will remain open and any new information provided to police relating to the circumstances of Mr Johnson’s death will be thoroughly investigated.”

— AAP