Scott Johnson died in a gay hate killing in 1988. His brother’s long fight for justice has finally paid off

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. After Steve Johnson had exposed shortcomings in the initial investigation by police in the Australian state of New South Wales, his brother’s death was linked to dozens of grisly homophobic killings carried out in Sydney in the 1980s and 90s. open image in gallery Scott Johnson’s killing in a gay hate crime in 1988 raised awareness about an epidemic of violence in Sydney, Australia, in the 1980s and 90s On 10 December 1988, spear fishermen found Scott’s badly broken body on rocks about 60 metres below cliffs at Blue Fish Point in the upmarket Sydney suburb of Manly. “I didn’t know why we lost Scott.” When Mr Noone reportedly told police about a previous suicide attempt that Scott had made, that was enough for them to close the case. open image in gallery Participants take part in the 45th annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade on Oxford Street in Sydney in February 2023 Mr Glick travelled to Sydney, and soon found the evidence that would challenge key aspects of the police’s version of events; that Blue Fish Point was in fact a place gay men frequented for sex, and that violent attacks had occurred there.