gregjrichards
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Jan 2022
Scott Johnson: Man confesses to 1988 gay hate murder - BBC News
GE SOURCE,STEVE JOHNSON
Image caption,
Scott came to Australia in 1986 from the US
IMAGE SOURCE,STEVE JOHNSON
Image caption,
Steve (left) has spent more than 30 years trying to find out the truth about his brother Scott's death
A man has finally confessed to the murder of Cambridge University graduate Scott Johnson after more than 30 years.
The 27-year-old's naked body was found at the bottom of North Head cliffs, a well known gay cruising ground in Sydney, Australia, back in 1988.
At the time, his death was ruled as suicide - something his family never believed.
Scott White was arrested and charged in 2020, and this week unexpectedly pleaded guilty at a pre-trial hearing.
His lawyers attempted to have the admission withdrawn, arguing that White, 50, was not mentally fit.
But on Thursday, a Supreme Court judge rejected that motion, writing the plea was entered "in a loud clear voice, and in an emphatic and determined manner".
"The gay community were second class citizens. They weren't well protected," Steve said.
"The gangs would attack these cruising areas because they knew the police wouldn't come after them.They also knew that the gay community were afraid of the police, so they wouldn't come and report the crimes."
Steve described Scott, who was a maths PhD student, as "one of the most gifted of his generation".
He added his brother was a "proud" gay man, as well as his best friend''
I am glad the Supreme Court Judge did not throw out his confession. It is horrifying that it is believed up to 80 men were murdered and that these gangs were able to carry out their attacks and murders knowing the police wouldn’t come after them. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for the gay community to live in fear of being attacked and killed by these gangs and know the police would not protect them due to the discrimination they faced because of their sexual orientation.
It is distressing to think that gay people were treated like their lives did not have the same value or they had no value at all compared to heterosexual sexual people because of their sexuality. I can’t imagine how this must have felt and the gay community still continue to experience homophobia today.
It should not have mattered what sexuality any of the victims were. These gangs should not have been able to carry out their attacks and murders and the police should have protected everyone in the community from harm regardless of their sexual orientation. It is a horrendous tragedy that for many of the gay men who were murdered and their loved ones nobody has been arrested and prosecuted for taking their lives and that the gang members involved have got away with murder.
I very much hope that the gay community who live in the area now do not continue to live in fear of being the victims of homophobic attacks and that the police have a zero tolerance approach to any hate crimes due to sexual orientation.
May Scott Johnson Rest In Peace.
