Jury convicts ex-cop of murdering tenant over unpaid rent
A jury convicted former police officer Steven Frederick Johnson, 74, of murdering his tenant Christopher Jarvis.
A jury has convicted Steven Frederick Johnson, 74, of murdering his tenant Christopher Jarvis over a $2210 rent dispute. Jarvis disappeared in June 2006 from his Wangoom home in western Victoria and has never been found.
Johnson and another man attacked Jarvis in his driveway, hit him with a starter pistol, shot him in the ear, then beat him with a baseball bat. Johnson and the other man buried Jarvis in a forest grave and burned the car.
A court hearing was scheduled for the day after the alleged killing to hear Johnson's case for eviction and unpaid rent. The jury deliberated after hearing four weeks of evidence before delivering their verdict on Friday.
Courtroom observers broke into tears when the guilty verdict was announced.
- $2,210
- Rent owed
- Christopher Jarvis, 38
- Victim's age
- June 2006 from Wangoom, western Victoria
- Disappearance
- 20 years
- Cold case span
Why it mattersA 20-year-old cold case is finally solved, giving a family answers about their son's disappearance.
AustraliaAn Australian family has closure after 20 years of uncertainty about a tenant's disappearance.
Corroborated byabc.net.au·perthnow.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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