Steven Johnson no longer facing charge of murdering Christopher Jarvis

An elderly man accused of bludgeoning his tenant to death with a baseball bat is no longer facing a murder charge.

The burnt out car of missing person, Christopher Jarvis, was discovered at Thunder Point. Picture: supplied

A landlord accused of killing his tenant over an unresolved rent dispute has had the murder charge struck out.

Steven Johnson, 71, was charged with the death of Christopher Jarvis, who went missing in June 2006.

The 48-year-old has not been seen since he left for work from his home in Wangoom, near Warrnambool in Victoria’s west.

Mr Johnson appeared before Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning where prosecutor Mark Gibson withdrew the single charge of murder.

Prior to being released on bail in June, Mr Johnson had spent 190 days in custody.

Christopher Jarvis was a much loved father

Police had alleged that Mr Johnson and co-accused Glenn Fenwick, 59, killed Mr Jarvis and used his car to dispose of his body in the Framlingham Forest, located about 9km from the scene of the alleged crime.

The car was later found burnt out at Thunder Point, a cliff-lined beauty spot on the coastal edge of Warrnambool.

A baseball bat was found inside the car.

The day after Mr Jarvis disappeared a rental dispute involving him and Mr Johnson was due to heard by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.