Man accused of murdering Victorian father Christopher Jarvis granted bail

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2 days ago

A south-west Victorian man charged with the 2006 cold case murder of Christopher Jarvis will be released from custody while he awaits a possible trial.
Police arrested 72-year-old Steven Federick Johnson in March and charged him with the murder of Mr Jarvis, who disappeared from his home near Warrnambool in 2006.
Justice Rita Incerti approved Mr Johnson's bail application in the Victorian Supreme Court on Friday.
Justice Incerti said she was satisfied Mr Johnson's case met the exceptional circumstances required for bail.
The circumstances included challenges to his physical and mental health, which needed specialist medical treatment.
The court heard Mr Johnson had adhered to all bail conditions when he was released on bail in 2023 after he faced charges in relation to Mr Jarvis's disappearance that were later dropped.
Christopher Jarvis left his home at Wangoom on the morning of June 13, 2006, and was not seen again.
His burnt-out car was later found at Thunder Point, a popular scenic lookout on the coast of Warrnambool.
An investigation into his disappearance was at a standstill for almost two decades until Victoria Police's missing persons squad received new information from the public which led to the cold case being re-opened in 2022.
The re-ignited investigation led to searches of Framlingham Forest.
The court heard Mr Johnson was charged in relation to Mr Jarvis's disappearance in 2022, but the charges were later dropped.
He was charged again in March this year.
During a bail application hearing in the Supreme Court on Thursday, Detective Senior Constable Alicia Reivers said police opposed the bail application as detectives believed there was an unacceptable risk of him obstructing the course of justice by influencing a witness.
The Jarvis family also opposed bail, the court heard.
The court also heard police held concerns Mr Johnson could tamper with evidence, namely Mr Jarvis' body, which prosecutors allege is buried in Framlingham Forest near Warrnambool.
Mr Jarvis's body has never been found.
Public prosecutor Jenaya Ellis said the Crown's case alleged that Mr Johnson knew where the body was located.
Mr Johnson's lawyer Patrick Doyle SC told the court Mr Johnson had been released on bail previously in the matter and complied with similar conditions.
The current bail application was made with a $500,000 surety, sourced from Mr Johnson's wife's share of a property, along with her commitment to hold him accountable to the bail conditions.
His lawyer said Mr Johnson would not breach the conditions, given that contacting a witness would provide incriminating evidence against him, as well as risking the significant surety.
Mr Johnson was released on bail on a number of conditions, including that he not contact, or instruct anyone to contact, witnesses.
He was also banned from visiting Framlingham Forest.