Former police officer found guilty of 2006 cold case murder of Warrnambool father

Steven Frederick Johnson, 74, convicted over the killing of his tenant Christopher Jarvis in a dispute about $2210 in unpaid rent.

By LineZotpaper

Published23 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Sources3 outlets

A Supreme Court jury has found former police officer Steven Frederick Johnson, 74, guilty of murdering Warrnambool father Christopher Jarvis, who vanished from his home in regional Victoria in June 2006 in what prosecutors said was a dispute over unpaid rent. Jarvis's body has never been found.

A jury in the Warrnambool Supreme Court heard that Johnson, who served 15 years in the police force before running a tip at Wangoom, was Jarvis's landlord. The two had been fighting over $2210 in rent Jarvis allegedly owed. Johnson had filed for Jarvis to vacate the property and pay the outstanding sum, with a court hearing listed for the day after the alleged murder.

The court was told Jarvis, 38, was attacked in his driveway on June 13, 2006 as he tried to leave for work. Johnson struck him to the back of the head with a starter pistol, held him down while he yelled for help, and shot him in the ear. Bleeding from the head, Jarvis was dragged into the boot of his own car and driven to the remote Framlingham Forest, where Johnson struck him with a baseball bat, killing him. The two men buried him in a shallow grave, dumped his car at Thunder Point and set it alight.

Senior Crown prosecutor Mark Gibson, KC, told the jury the dispute was Johnson's motive. “It's no coincidence that Chris Jarvis went missing the day before that court case,” he said in his closing address. “Johnson knew he had a fight on his hands.”

Johnson pleaded not guilty, with defence barrister Patrick Doyle arguing the co-accused, who cannot be identified, was responsible for Jarvis's death. The man gave evidence at the trial but repeatedly lied about Johnson's involvement, Doyle said. “All you have to go on is the word of a man who is a practised liar with an overwhelming incentive to stick to his story ... to get him off a murder charge,” he said.

The jury returned its guilty verdict late on Friday. Family members in the public gallery burst into sobs while others shook hands, and ABC News reported cheering and celebration in court. Johnson's bail was revoked.

Asked to state his name, age and occupation before Justice Andrew Tinney, Johnson said: “I was a police officer for 15 years. I served this state, I served the people,” before staff intervened. He appeared to try to speak to Jarvis's distraught family, three of whom yelled “do not speak to me” as security guards moved between the groups.

Johnson, who was charged in March 2025, was remanded in custody ahead of a pre-sentence hearing on December 14.

Analysis

Why This Matters

A conviction secured almost two decades after the killing, in a case where Jarvis's body was never recovered.
The case centres on a former police officer, a figure of public trust, convicted over a killing the prosecution says was motivated by a $2210 rent dispute.
For Jarvis's family, the verdict ends more than 19 years of uncertainty, though questions remain over where his remains lie.

Background

Christopher Jarvis, 38, was last seen on June 13, 2006 at his home at Wangoom, near Warrnambool in south-west Victoria. His burnt-out car was later found at Thunder Point, and for nearly two decades the case went unsolved until Johnson was charged in March 2025. At trial, the prosecution built its case around the account of a co-accused and circumstances linking the killing to a scheduled court hearing over unpaid rent. Victorian Supreme Court trials can proceed to conviction on circumstantial evidence, and a murder charge does not require a body to be found.

Key Perspectives

Crown prosecution: Senior Crown prosecutor Mark Gibson, KC, argued the rent dispute gave Johnson a motive, noting Jarvis vanished the day before a scheduled court hearing. “It's no coincidence that Chris Jarvis went missing the day before that court case,” he said.

Defence: Barrister Patrick Doyle argued a co-accused, who cannot be identified, was responsible for the death, describing him as “a practised liar with an overwhelming incentive to stick to his story ... to get him off a murder charge.”

The victim's family: Relatives in the public gallery sobbed and shook hands as the verdict was read, and three family members told Johnson “do not speak to me” when he appeared to try to address them.

What to Watch

The pre-sentence hearing on December 14, where the court will begin setting Johnson's penalty.
The position of the co-accused, whose own murder charge was referenced during the trial.
Whether any fresh information emerges about the location of Jarvis's remains in Framlingham Forest.

Sources

Breaking: Former cop found guilty of cold case murder of Warrnambool man · Just In
‘I served this state’: Former police officer indignant after jury convicts him of murder over $2000 · Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
‘I served this state’: Former police officer indignant after jury convicts him of murder over $2000 · The Age - Latest News

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 12 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedA jury found former police officer Steven Frederick Johnson guilty of murdering Warrnambool father Christopher Jarvis in a 2006 cold case.Just In: “A Supreme Court jury has found an elderly former police officer guilty of murdering Warrnambool father Christopher Jarvis in June 2006.”
SupportedJohnson, 74, was Jarvis’s landlord, and they were in a dispute over $2210 in unpaid rent.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Johnson and his tenant had been fighting over $2210 in rent Jarvis allegedly owed, senior Crown prosecutor Mark Gibson, KC, said.”
SupportedJarvis vanished from his home in June 2006, and his body has never been found.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Steven Frederick Johnson, 74, was the landlord of missing Warrnambool man Christopher Jarvis when the father vanished from his home in June 2006.”
SupportedProsecutor Mark Gibson said the rent dispute was Johnson’s motive.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Gibson argued the dispute was Johnson’s motive to kill Jarvis.”
SupportedGibson told the jury, “It’s no coincidence that Chris Jarvis went missing the day before that court case” and “Johnson knew he had a fight on his hands.”Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““It’s no coincidence that Chris Jarvis went missing the day before that court case,” he said in his closing address. “Johnson knew he had a fight on his hands.””
SupportedThe court heard Jarvis was attacked in his driveway on June 13, 2006, as he tried to leave for work.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “The jury was told Jarvis was attacked in his driveway by Johnson and another man as he tried to leave for work on June 13, 2006.”
SupportedThe court heard Johnson struck Jarvis with a starter pistol, held him down while he yelled for help, and shot him in the ear.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Johnson struck Jarvis to the back of the head with a starter pistol, held him down on the ground while he yelled for help, and then shot him in the ear, the court heard.”
SupportedThe court heard Johnson struck Jarvis with a baseball bat in the forest, killing him.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “The court heard Johnson then grabbed a baseball bat from the car and struck Jarvis with force, killing him.”
SupportedJohnson and the other man buried Jarvis in a shallow grave.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “He and the other man then dug a shallow grave and buried Jarvis before leaving the scene.”
SupportedDefence barrister Patrick Doyle argued that Johnson’s co-accused was responsible for Jarvis’s death.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Doyle instead argued it was Johnson’s co-accused who was responsible for Jarvis’ death.”
SupportedJohnson said, “I was a police officer for 15 years. I served this state, I served the people.”Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “When asked to state his name, age and occupation, Johnson stood before Justice Andrew Tinney and said: “I was a police officer for 15 years. I served this state, I served the people,” before staff intervened.”
SupportedJohnson was charged in March 2025 and remanded in custody before a pre-sentence hearing on December 14.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Johnson, who was charged in March 2025, was remanded in custody before a pre-sentence hearing on December 14.”