An Australian man who admitted killing a gay American by punching him off a cliff top in Sydney in 1988 was sentenced on Thursday to nine years in prison, ending the victim’s family’s 35-year battl…
By RICK RYCROFT and ROD McGUIRK | Associated Press
White had pleaded guilty last year to the then-27-year-old’s murder — a greater crime — and had been sentenced to more than 12 years in prison. But he changed his mind and had the murder conviction overturned on appeal. Johnson’s Boston-based older brother, Steve Johnson, had fought to get police to launch a criminal investigation since a coroner ruled in 1989 that Scott Johnson had taken his own life.
“The killer’s behind bars and he’s admitted to doing it. I feel like I’ve done right by Scott,” he added. Police Chief Inspector Peter Yeomans congratulated Steve Johnson, whom he considers a “good friend,” on his campaign. The American was close to receiving his doctorate from the Australian National University, which he has since been awarded posthumously.
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Australian man sentenced to 9 years in prison for gay American's 1988 manslaughterAn Australian man who admitted killing a gay American by punching him off a cliff top in Sydney in 1988 has been sentenced to nine years in prison. Scott Phillip White had pleaded guilty in the New South Wales state Supreme Court to Los Angeles-born Scott Johnson’s manslaughter. White had pleaded guilty last year to the then-27-year-old’s murder and had been sentenced to more than 12 years in prison. But he changed his mind and had the murder conviction overturned on appeal. In sentencing on Thursday, Justice Robert Beech-Jones said he could not be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the homicide was a “gay hate crime.”
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Australian Man Sentenced For Fatally Punching Gay American Off Cliff In 1988Scott Phillip White pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Los Angeles-born Scott Johnson, ending the victim’s family’s 35-year battle for justice.
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Brother of gay American attacked on Sydney cliff in 1988 says killer deserves no leniencyThe brother of American Scott Johnson says the man who attacked Johnson on a cliff top in Sydney in 1988 deserves no leniency.
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