A man has been arrested by detectives investigating the murder of Scott Johnson, whose body was located near North Head more than 30 years ago.
On the morning of Saturday 10 December 1988, the body of Sydney-based American National, Scott Johnson, was found at the base of a cliff at Blue Fish Point, near Manly’s North Head. Scott was aged just 27.
A coronial inquest in 1989 found Scott had committed suicide, with a second inquest in June 2012 returning an open finding.
The matter was referred for a third inquest and, in 2017, the then-NSW Coroner, Michael Barnes, found that 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.
Following the inquest, NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller met with Scott’s brother, Steve Johnson, to discuss the case before selecting a specialist team of detectives to investigate the circumstances surrounding Scott’s death under Strike Force Welsford.
In December 2018, the NSW Government increased the $100,000 reward to $1million before Steve announced a further $1 million reward earlier this year.
Following extensive investigations, Strike Force Welsford detectives arrested a 49-year-old man at Lane Cove about 8.30am today (Tuesday 12 May 2020), before a search warrant was executed at a nearby home.
He has been taken to Chatswood Police Station and charges are expected to be laid later today.
Police have also commenced a forensic search at North Head this morning, which is expected to take a number of hours to complete.
Commissioner Fuller has personally notified Steve, who lives in the United States, of today’s developments.
“Making that phone call this morning is a career highlight – Steve has fought so hard for so many years, and it has been an honour be part of his fight for justice,” the Commissioner said.
“While we have a long way to go in the legal process, it must be acknowledged that if it wasn’t for the determination of the Johnson family, which inspired me and the Strike Force Welsford team – led by Detective Chief Inspector Peter Yeomans, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
Further information will be available when it comes to hand.
