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A28 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 13 May 2020
Suspect arrested in 1988 death of American man in Sydney

By DENNIS PASSA the other dozens of gay
Associated Press men who lost their lives find
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — solace in what's happened
More than 30 years after today and hope it opens
American mathematician the door to resolve some of
Scott Johnson died after the other mysterious deaths
falling off a cliff in Sydney, of men who have not yet
a man has been charged received justice," he said.
with his death in an appar- Johnson said his brother
ent gay hate crime that graduated at the top of his
police believe was one class at CalTech and later
of many over several de- studied at Cambridge and
cades in Australia's largest Harvard universities before
city. moving to Australia.
New South Wales state po- A 2018 police review of 88
lice said Tuesday that a suspicious deaths from 1976
49-year-old man who they to 2000 revealed that 27
did not name has been men were likely murdered
charged with murdering for their homosexuality by
the 27-year-old Sydney- gangs, with cases peaking
based Johnson in 1988. in the late 1980s and early
They said the man was ar- '90s. ACON, New South
rested at a property in Syd- Wales' leading sexuality
ney's northern suburbs. He Police search a headland in Sydney, Tuesday, May 12, 2020, following an arrest in relation to the and gender-diverse health
was taken to a local po- death of a man in 1998. Associated Press organization, said it has
lice station for questioning, been a long and difficult
and was later charged with However, the third inquest, Police Commissioner Mick statement that his brother process for Johnson's family
murder. He was refused bail in 2017, found that John- Fuller said in a statement symbolizes those who lost and friends.
and is scheduled to appear son fell from the clifftop as Tuesday that he had been their lives to homophobic- "While this is a significant
in court on Wednesday. the result of violence by an in contact with Johnson's inspired violence. development in this par-
Three inquests were held unidentified attacker who brother Steve in Boston to "It's emotional for me, emo- ticular case, it highlights the
into Johnson's death after perceived him to be gay. inform him of the arrest. tional for my family, my need for ongoing inves-
he was found at the base A 1 million Australian dollar "Making that phone call this two sisters and brother who tigation, truth-telling and
of a cliff near Manly's North ($647,000) reward for infor- morning is a career high- loved Scott dearly, my wife the delivery of justice for so
Head on Dec. 10, 1988. In mation leading to an arrest light — Steve has fought and three kids who never many other gay men and
the first inquest, his death in the case was offered in so hard for so many years, got to know their uncle," trans people, who were
was ruled a suicide. The 2018, and Johnson's fam- and it has been an honor Johnson said. murdered or bashed in
second inquest, in June ily in March pledged to be part of his fight for jus- "He courageously lived his similar cases," ACON's chief
2012, returned an open match that amount. tice," Fuller said. life as he wanted to. I hope executive, Nicolas Parkhill,
finding. New South Wales state Steve Johnson said in a the friends and families of said in a statement.q

Sao Paulo homeless face choice between cold and virus risk

Lancellotti, a 71-year-old welcomed dozens of adults and people with
priest, said nothing he’s them into his parish in east- other health problems.
seen these people face in ern Sao Paulo. “These are Eight of the homeless vic-
three decades compares the most vulnerable peo- tims had preexisting condi-
to the hardship he expects ple of all. No hygiene, so- tions and none died in shel-
from the new pandemic cial isolation or access to ters, local authorities said.
— not economic turmoil, handouts,” he said. “They Sao Paulo has two shelters
waves of violence nor go to shelters that have for suspected COVID-19
dengue fever. infected beds.” City Hall’s cases, with 40 residents in
“I have the feeling this will announcement of nearly total. There are another 10
be our biggest challenge, two dozen deaths among centers for the homeless
and the most difficult part those living on the streets in general with more than
isn’t even here yet,” Lan- drew outcry, but Lan- 4,400 beds, about one
Homeless people sleep outside the Cathedral amid the spread cellotti told The Associ- cellotti and other social quarter of which are newly
of the new coronavirus in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, May 7, ated Press. Sao Paulo’s workers believe those fig- installed for use during the
2020.
Associated Press homeless population ex- ures are underestimated pandemic. Marco Anto-
ploded in recent years, — as are Brazil’s figures in nio, 45, said he won’t be
By MAURICIO SAVARESE shelters risk becoming with official figures soaring general. Latin America’s seeking refuge any time
and TATIANA POLASTRI hotbeds for infection. At to nearly 25,000 last year, hardest-hit nation officially soon. He sells recyclables
Associated Press least 22 homeless people up 60% from 2015. Brazil’s counts more than 11,000 that he wheels around all
SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s in Sao Paulo have died long-lasting economic cri- deaths by the virus. day in a shopping cart
biggest homeless popula- from COVID-19 so far, ac- sis and cuts to social pro- For most people, the new and, since the outbreak
tion has begun succumb- cording to City Hall, and grams pitched thousands coronavirus causes mild began, he has been wear-
ing to COVID-19, and there are hundreds of into the streets of the or moderate symptoms, ing gloves and a mask.
activists warn the worst suspected cases through- country’s richest city. Then which can include fever And he’ll share sleeping
is yet to come as colder out the state, both on the came the coronavirus. and cough. The risk of space with no more than
weather bears down and streets and in shelters. Júlio On Sunday, Lancellotti death is greater for older four neighbors. q