Scott Johnson inquest: gay bashing "bait" to testify

A man who acted as a lure in Sydney gay bashings is set to give evidence at an inquest into the death of a talented mathematician 28 years ago.

The naked body of Scott Russell Johnson, 27, was found at the base of a Manly cliff, his clothes and possessions neatly stacked above, in December 1988. 

The last family photo of Scott Johnson, who died in 1988. Photo: NSW Police

The first inquest, held soon after, found Mr Johnson had taken his own life. That conclusion has never been accepted by his family, who believe Mr Johnson was the victim of a hate crime. 

Another inquest, in 2012, found the cause of death an open question.

On Thursday, after extensive lobbying by the Johnson family, a third inquest began at the NSW Coroner's Court in Glebe in an attempt to discover how the young man died. 

Mr Johnson, the court heard, was an American mathematician of "exceptional talent" who had achieved a breakthrough shortly before his death. He had studied in Canberra and Sydney for three years while living in a relationship with his Australian boyfriend. 

On December 10, 1988, two days after Mr Johnson was last seen alive, a teenage boy found his body on rocks at Blue Fish Point near North Head on the lower North Shore. 

The Johnson family's barrister, John Agius, SC, said the area above had been a known gay beat and Sydney had experienced a number  of "poofter bashings" in the late 1980s.

He said the inquest would hear from a man who acted as "bait" for victims, seducing them before gangs robbed and bashed them for "evil sport".

Scott Johnson was about to receive a doctorate in mathematics, died in 1988.  Photo: NSW Police

This witness was expected to name Blue Fish Point as a spot where he had lured victims, Mr Agius said. 

Counsel assisting the coroner, Kristina Stern, SC, said there were three "broad possibilities" as to the cause of death - accident, suicide and foul play - but her team was not advancing on the basis of any one theory.

Steve Johnson, brother of Scott Johnson, pushed for a third inquest.  

Ms Stern said Mr Johnson had once told his partner about a suicide attempt years before when he had believed he had contracted HIV from sex outside the relationship. Despite a number of infidelities, including an affair six months before Mr Johnson died, the relationship was generally seen as stable and loving.

Ms Stern noted a "logical difficulty" of the first inquest making a finding of suicide despite the absence of "positive evidence."

Steve Johsnon, right, with brother Scott Johnson before they climbed the Matterhorn mountain in 1984. Photo: Supplied

The Johnson family barrister, Mr Agius, criticised NSW Police for having seized on the suicide theory almost immediately while rejecting notions of foul play. He said "an anti-gay culture infiltrated the NSW police force " as well as much of Sydney society in the 1980s.

Sarah Pritchard, SC, acting for Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione, said he did not accept many of the Johnson family's criticisms, while underscoring the scope of the lengthy police investigation. 

A new police strike force, Macnamir, has set about finding fresh leads since the 2012 inquest and a $100,000 reward is on offer for new information.

Outside court, Mr Johnson's brother Steve, renewed a call for members of public to come forward with tips.

"On behalf of my family, especially my brother Scott, we're delighted that Coroner Barnes is taking an interest in this case and undertaking this inquest," Steve Johnson said.