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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Michael Burge

Police had ‘adversarial relationship’ with family of killed man Scott Johnson, inquiry hears

American mathematician Scott Johnson was found dead in Sydney in 1988. His death was initially ruled a suicide but a man was arrested and pleaded guilty to manslaughter after the case was reopened in 2015.
American mathematician Scott Johnson was found dead in Sydney in 1988. His death was initially ruled a suicide but a man was arrested and pleaded guilty to manslaughter after the case was reopened in 2015. Photograph: Courtesy of Steve Johnson/ NSW Police

An inquiry into LGBTQ+ hate crimes has heard there was a desire from some police officers investigating the 1988 death of American mathematician Scott Johnson to “defeat” Johnson’s family who were perceived to be “pushing” for a homicide investigation.

Johnson was found dead at the bottom of a cliff in Manly, below a popular gay beat.

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