Senior detective removed from suspected gay hate killing case of Scott Johnson
Image: Detective Chief Inspector Pamela Young has been removed from the investigation into the 1988 death of American gay man Scott Johnson. (Image: ABC Lateline)
A SENIOR detective has been reportedly removed from the investigation into the 1988 death of American gay man Scott Johnson in light of her interview on ABC’s Lateline last week.
The removal of Detective Chief Inspector Pamela Young from Johnson’s case came after NSW Coroner Michael Barnes’ office expressed concerns that Young had undermined public confidence in the investigation into Johnson’s 1988 death.
As reported by Fairfax Media, a letter to the NSW Police Force from senior crown solicitor Naomi Malhotra claimed Young did not follow standards of conduct by telling Lateline she thought Johnson had most likely committed suicide.
Also in her interview, the Unsolved Homicides Unit investigator accused former police minister Mike Gallacher of “kowtowing” to the demands of the victim’s brother Steve Johnson, and said her relationship with the Johnson family had deteriorated.
In the letter, the Coroner acknowledged Young had devoted a lot of time to the investigation and therefore had an intimate knowledge of it, but he considered the “continued involvement of DCI Young will make it very difficult to regain the confidence of the key stakeholders in the inquest and may have a tendency to detract from the real issues, namely the determination of the manner and cause of Scott Johnson’s death.”
The coroner said a new investigator should be appointed to the case to restore public confidence in the investigation.
Earlier this week, Sydney state independent MP Alex Greenwich also wrote a letter to Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione urging him to remove Young from the Johnson investigation after her “extraordinary statements” in the Lateline interview led to some community members contacting him with their concerns.
“There is serious community concern about this officer being biased and dismissive of historic homophobic treatment,” writes Greenwich, who is openly gay.
“The decision by the NSW Coroner to carry out a third inquest into Scott Johnson’s death should be supported and have full police cooperation.”
When Johnson’s naked body was found at the bottom of a cliff at North Head, near Manly on Sydney’s northern beaches in December 1988, his death was deemed to be a suicide but his family believe he was thrown from the cliff and have since lobbied for the case to be re-investigated.
At the NSW Coroner’s Court last week, Barnes said he would hold an extraordinary third inquest into the death of Johnson, who was a US citizen studying in Australia for his PhD.
While the first inquest in 1989 found Johnson committed suicide with no foul play involved, this was overturned by a second inquest in 2012 which saw the case given back to NSW Police for re-investigation and with a $100,000 reward for information offered.
In 2013, the NSW Crime Commission was asked to independently examine the integrity of the investigation. It determined it was thorough, comprehensive and did not leave out an any obvious line of inquiry.
ABC News has reported that Detective Sergeant Penelope Brown will replace Young on the case.
NSW Police has been contacted for comment.
H/T ABC News
There is an old saying my dad once said:
“If you play with fire, you are going to get burned!”
Gay Hate is Class 9 for cannabis. No trials ever in this country, let us be forced to use a patent poison instead, made in Germany.
No gas chambers just Truvada & Gilead.
When these people in politics responsible reach heaven, all the gays there will be waiting and will remember, PMs & Queen of Australia killed them.
Eternity. See you there.
Good riddance!
Did someone say “troll”?
When was it aired! I’m trying to find it in iView but no luck so far
There’s a link to the interview within the story.
Thanks! I found it
Oh and I’m not gay either Steve.
Then you’re a bigger idiot than most
Not surprising you’d attack me personally. Just as well your opinion of me is irrelevant.
Good news
Steve,
GET SERIOUS!
She indicated she thought it was a suicide because the man had mentioned feelings of suicide five years earlier.
I’m glad the family aren’t willing to accept some keystone nonsense. Good for them!
who pays for the third inquest. The first 2 weren’t cheap and no new evidence has been uncovered. must be a homophobic conspiracy
Steve,
You make no sense. I am debating the premise on which you are saying it is reasonable to assume he committed suicide. The evidence of which is that, ‘he mentioned suicide five years ago’. That is not me believing in a homophobic conspiracy. That is making a judgement based on the evidence presented.
As for the economics. Lindy Chamberlin had three inquests. Why for some and not for others?
Her inquests came from new evidence being presented. What has changed in this instance? Why was Alex Greewich approached for comment? Why would the gay community presume he was thrown off a cliff? Why wouldn’t Alex support the findings of the first 2 inquests? If this poor fellow wasn’t gay he would not be given a second thought. But I’m labelled a homophobe.
Steve,
Again. You really don’t know what you’re talking about. Let me wrap this up real quick.
1) The coroner ordered a new inquest because of new evidence from witnesses which could lead to a “different finding”.
2) Alex Greenwich is a public representative who is openly gay. He holds the NSW Seat of Sydney. He is more than qualified to act as a community voice.
3) The gay community doesn’t presume he was thrown off a cliff. Unexplored evidence suggests this.
4) Why would Alex support the first two inquests when the coroner has ordered a third based on new evidence which could “well lead to a different finding,”.
5) He was gay. Given the event occurred in 1989 and the second inquest was not held until 2012, your assumption makes no sense. It doesn’t take 23 years to get a second inquest when you’re getting special treatment.
6) Your posts do come across as homophobic.
We will completely disregard the fact that this person was found dead at the bottom of a cliff where people often suicide when suffering from depression. Alex Greenwich is a puppet who lacks credibility. Not for being a gay man but for defining himself as one which in my view would suggest he has conlficted interests. Not too sure how much weight 27 year old witness accounts hold in any court.
1) No one is disregarding the fact he was found at a suicide spot. That was the outcome of the initial inquest. Subsequent inquests are what is challenging that.
2) Whatever personal gripe you have with Alex Greenwich is your own. He’s a public representative. He is mandated to speak on the public’s behalf.
3) Alex Greenwich has a conflict of interest in this case because he is gay? Does that mean every heterosexual politician has a conflict of interest in cases they speak about concerning heterosexual victims?
4) The result of the inquest is to determine the truth. The truth does not get old.
They’re just called victims to us homophobes. Gay victims only exist within the gay community. Most people even gay people recognise how bigoted the gay community can be including their self serving representatives. On a side note is the Star a gay paper by any chance?
Caleb, the spot where Scott died was NOT a suicide spot.
Steve, go and see and counsellor. This is obviously about more than a possible murder of a gay man for you.
Thomas, I’m asserting what I’ve read. If you want to argue the legitimacy of the term “suicide spot” then fine. But that’s what was asserted by police. That said, let me remind you that I’m obviously arguing for a third inquest. You dope.
Hi Caleb. Its obvious you support a third inquest, that wasn’t in doubt. I support a third inquest too! I was simply pointing out that police were incorrect in claiming that the spot where Scott died was a suicide spot. Indeed, not all police maintain the belief that the place where Scott died was a suicide spot, see this article, for example:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/close-to-the-edge/story-e6frg6z6-1226134920534
The fact that the place where Scott died was not a suicide spot is an incredibly important piece of evidence, for it makes it highly unlikely therefore that Scott would have suicided. Thomas :)
This is great news. Wait…I like this…I must be gay. Oh wait…no I am just a reaonable and compassionate individual and Steve Papas is just a homophobe. I hope this investigation does not just stop with Justice for Scott Johnson, but goes on to investigate all the suspect deaths and bashings of gay men from that time. The perpetrators do not deserve to get away with this.
I’m not in fear of gay people.
Only a gay person would like this. The whole concept of police involvement in a coronial matter is to provide a professional opinion based on what facts are available to them, not to bend to the will of a family who cannot accept their son probably killed himself. It must have been awesome for a foreign gay man in the 80’s suffering depression 5000 kms away from home.
Are you homophobic or what?
Why would you say that?
Steve’s a troll. Let him bang on about something he knows nothing about….
What a pig of a man
Sezer Yazar