Double killer Neddy Smith responsible for model Mark Johnston’s death: coroner

The court heard detectives went to the Prince of Wales Hospital secure ward on February 15, 2021 to speak to Smith, who was serving two life sentences for other murders.

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Attorney assisting the coroner, Tina Xanthos, said Smith was “unintelligible but denied any involvement in Mark’s murder.”

O’Sullivan said Smith’s health had “significantly deteriorated” by this point and he died in September 2021.

“It appeared to investigators that Mr. Smith understood the questions and attempted to verbalise the answers, but most of the words could not be understood,” O’Sullivan said.

“Mr Smith was asked about Mr Johnston and was able to tell investigators that he remembered him, but added: ‘I have nothing to say’. He was asked if he knew what had happened to Mr Johnston and replied “No, you know?”

“He further denied any involvement in the disposal of Mr Johnston’s body.”

O’Sullivan said evidence presented by witnesses at the previous inquest showed that Johnston left the Bellevue Hotel and went to his attorney Val Bellamy’s home in Dover Heights, where he was killed.

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“As several years have passed, it is inevitable that many of these witnesses have since passed away and have taken the opportunity to re-examine their evidence,” O’Sullivan said.

“They include Mr. Johnston’s attorney, Val Bellamy, and Arthur Johnston, Mr. Johnston’s father, who has been active in seeking justice for his son’s death.”

Detective Sergeant Peter Davis, the officer in charge of the re-investigation into Johnston’s death, told the court that no suspect other than Smith had ever been identified.

He said after the bones were examined, it could not be determined how Johnston was killed.

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