Shortcut: The Gay Hate Crime That Went Unsolved for Over 30 Years

This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed.

Scott Johnson's naked body was found on the rocks at Blue Fish Point near Manly in Sydney in December 1988. Above him loomed the jagged cliffs from which he had fallen the night before.

Manly police were quick to declare his death a suicide, even though gay men were being found in similar circumstances around the Sydney shoreline with shocking regularity.

Scott was, and still is, deeply loved by his friends, family and older brother, Steve Johnson.

Steve refused to give up in his pursuit of justice for Scott. His crusade uncovered the truth about decades of gay hate crimes in Sydney and the police inaction that allowed them to thrive.

Steve Johnson has just released a book called A Thousand Miles from Care, and he joins us on Australian True Crime to talk about it.

You can purchase "A Thousand Miles from Care" by clicking this link.

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For Support:

Lifeline on 13 11 14

13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram

Guest: Steve Johnson

Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard

This episode contains extra content from The ABC, Nine Entertainment and Seven West Media.