Former police officer found guilty of murdering tenant

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 23 Oct, 07:02 · Archive

Steven Frederick Johnson, 74, has been convicted of murdering his tenant Christopher Jarvis over unpaid rent in 2006.

Steven Frederick Johnson, 74, a former police officer and landlord, has been found guilty of murdering his tenant Christopher Jarvis, 38, in June 2006. Jarvis was last seen leaving his Wangoom home in Victoria's far west. The two men had been in dispute over £1,400 in unpaid rent, with Johnson having filed for Jarvis to vacate the property and pay the outstanding funds. A court hearing was scheduled for the day after the alleged murder.

According to the prosecution, Johnson and another man attacked Jarvis in his driveway as he tried to leave for work. Johnson struck Jarvis on the back of the head with a starter pistol, then shot him in the ear. The two men dragged the bleeding Jarvis into the boot of a car and drove him to a remote forest, where Johnson struck him repeatedly with a baseball bat, fatally wounding him. They dug a shallow grave and buried Jarvis before dumping his car at Thunder Point in Warrnambool and setting it alight.

The jury delivered their verdict on Friday at Warrnambool courthouse. Jarvis's body has never been found. Emotions ran high in the courtroom as the guilty verdict was announced, with gallery members crying and shaking hands.

How it is being reported

• Former policeman found guilty over cold case murderEmotions have run high in a courtroom as a landlord and former police officer was convicted of murdering his tenant two decades ago.Perth Now · 23 Oct, 06:30
• Former policeman found guilty over cold case murderEmotions have run high in a courtroom as a landlord and former police officer was convicted of murdering his tenant two decades ago.The West Australian · 23 Oct, 05:27

In this story: Steven Frederick Johnson · Christopher Jarvis · Wangoom · Victoria · Warrnambool · Thunder Point · Victorian Supreme Court

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem