Australian Admits to Killing Gay U.S. Man Whose Death Was Dismissed By Police as Suicide
New York Times reported.On December 8, 1988, Johnson's naked body was found at the base of the North Head cliff in Sydney. His clothes were found folded neatly at the top of the cliff and his wallet was missing.
Despite the suspicious circumstances police still ruled his death as a suicide, the Associated Press reported.White's lawyer tried to have White's guilty plea withdrawn arguing he was not "fit to make the admission." A Supreme Court judge rejected the defense's motion on Thursday and upheld the guilty plea, convicting White of murder, ABC News reported.Johnson, who was gay, had moved to Australia to be with his partner, ABC news said.
He attended the Australian National University as a mathematician doctoral student and had applied for permanent residency.Johnson's family had rejected the police's ruling of death as a suicide.
They always believed it was a gay hate crime as his body was found at a known spot where gay men would gather.A total of three coronial inquests were filed to look into Johnson's death.
