A man behind bars for murdering a mathematician found at the bottom of cliffs at Manly in 1988 will likely face trial after a court quashed his conviction over a surprise guilty plea.
Scott Phillip White had long denied murdering Scott Johnson, only to say "guilty, I am guilty" during a pre-trial hearing in Sydney in January.
He later told his confused lawyers "I didn't do it but I'm saying I'm doing it ... it's the only way, she's going to come after me" - suggesting his former wife would attack him.
