Newton Thompson victim of hate crime?

 

1944 – 01 08 2005

Australian, Newton Thompson, 61 from Melbourne was found robbed and beaten in his hotel room, at the Comfort Inn, Paddington on 1 August 2005.

This case was flagged as a potential hate crime because Detectives working on the case were investigating the possibility that he was murdered due to a case of mistaken identity – as Mr Thompson had a striking resemblance to paedophile Robert Excell – both had white hair and a silver beard and wore similar metal-framed glasses. It is understood police fear he could have been targeted by a vigilante who mistook him for the sex offender

The case remains unresolved.

• theage (20 08 05) Murdered Australian resembled paedophile
  BBC News (19 08 2005) ‘Mistaken identity’ murder clue
• BBC News (09 08 2005) Man’s last steps caught on film
  BBC News (04 08 2005) Australian found dead in hotel