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ABC News
ABC News
National

Former police officer charged with murder of missing man Christopher Jarvis

Two men have been charged with murder after the 2006 disappearance of Christopher Jarvis.

The Wangoom man vanished after his car was found torched in the coastal Victorian town of Warrnambool on June 13, 2006. 

Glenn Fenwick, 59, fronted Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Thursday charged with one count of murder. 

A second man, 70-year-old former police officer Steven Johnson, from Wangoom, was also charged with one count of murder and is due to appear in court on Thursday.

A police spokeswoman said there was nothing to suggest Mr Johnson had any professional connections with Warrnambool. 

"We can confirm he did not serve as a member of Victoria Police in that area," she said.

'Tell us where he is'

Mr Jarvis's distressed family members called out to Mr Fenwick during his court appearance.

"Just tell us where he is," a woman was heard yelling in the court.

Another male was removed from the court.

"That's my father that f*ckwit has f*cking murdered," the man said. 

"You're going to hell."

Defence lawyer Kerry Schroeder said Mr Fenwick had medical conditions and an aquired brain injury.

She said he had suffered heart attacks and asked that he be given a full medical work up before being taken to Melbourne. 

The court heard Mr Fenwick had served jail time previously. 

The matter will return to court in April next year.

Mr Fenwick remains in custody.

Tipoff leads to arrest

Victoria Police Crime Command Assistant Commissioner Bob Hill said a tipoff from a member of the public led to the arrests.

"Our heartfelt thoughts are with the Jarvis family today," Assistant Commissioner Hill said.

"The past 16 years have been an incredibly difficult time for them."

He thanked members of the public for providing information.

He said police would continue to search for Mr Jarvis.

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