On Monday, Deputy State Coroner Elaine Truscott held an inquest into Mr Scarman's death, finding he died on Christmas Day as a result of homicide. She said a "sole suspect" is believed to be responsible, but there is currently insufficient evidence for criminal charges. Rodney Scarman was killed on Christmas Day in 2011. Credit:Courtesy of Robyn Turner "[I] note that advances in technology and future occurrences may lead to a resolution of this investigation," Ms Truscott said. "In the meantime, the case will be registered with the unsolved homicide unit." In an opening statement, advocate assisting the inquest Durand Welsh said Mr Scarman was a reclusive man who had anxiety and schizophrenia, and the only significant event in his life which could have spurred the fatal conflict "was the $160 rip-off that occurred three days before his death". Mr Welsh said Mr Scarman gave $160 to a transgender woman who lived nearby, with the expectation she would buy him cannabis, but she instead gave some of the money to a friend and spent the rest on drugs and groceries.

In the days before his death, Mr Scarman was heard yelling "you owe me $160" to a different transgender woman when she climbed out of a taxi near his home. He was heard shouting "how stupid are you to rip me off, we live on the same street" and "I get even with you, you keep this up and I will kill you". Police believe a fatal altercation unfolded when Mr Scarman confronted a transgender woman who was friends with the original woman he gave $160 to, erroneously believing she was involved. Ms Truscott said the woman likely inflicted blunt force injuries on Mr Scarman, who then fell and was injured further. His body was likely left for several hours, she found, before it was moved into a wheelie bin, transferred to his unit block and placed in the cupboard to avoid going up the stairs to his unit. "After disposing of the body, the person then entered Mr Scarman's premises and washed their hands in the bathroom," Ms Truscott found. In a statement to the court, Mr Scarman's sister Robyn Turner said her brother was "a creative and gentle individual who liked to be different" and enjoyed working with the homeless.