Laying Scott Johnson to rest: the bitter hostilities behind a 27-year mystery

By Rick Feneley
Updated April 10 2016 - 10:23am, first published April 8 2016 - 6:00pm
The last family photo of Scott Johnson, who fell to his death from North Head in 1988. Photo: NSW Police
The last family photo of Scott Johnson, who fell to his death from North Head in 1988. Photo: NSW Police
Steve Johnson with Clover Moore in the 2013 Mardi Gras Parade in Sydney.  Photo: Supplied
Steve Johnson with Clover Moore in the 2013 Mardi Gras Parade in Sydney. Photo: Supplied
Scott Johnson, about four months before he fell to his death from  Sydney's North Head. Photo: Supplied
Scott Johnson, about four months before he fell to his death from Sydney's North Head. Photo: Supplied
Steve Johnson outside Glebe Coroner's Court where a third  inquest into the death of his brother Scott will be held in 2016.
 Photo: Nick Moir
Steve Johnson outside Glebe Coroner's Court where a third inquest into the death of his brother Scott will be held in 2016. Photo: Nick Moir
The two brothers, Scott Johnson (right) and Steve Johnson, at the Swiss-Italian border with the Matterhorn in the background in 1984.
The two brothers, Scott Johnson (right) and Steve Johnson, at the Swiss-Italian border with the Matterhorn in the background in 1984.

Days after Scott Johnson plunged to his death from a cliff on Sydney's North Head, the two most important men in his life – his brother and his lover – were driving to see a funeral director. Behind the wheel was Michael Noone, the boyfriend. In his account to police almost 25 years later, Noone recalled Steve Johnson's fury as they travelled along the Pacific Highway in December 1988.  "I remember him thumping with his fist on the dashboard, calling me a liar and telling me that I was on the cliff with Scott …"

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