Two charged over Tas murder, body missing

Two Tasmanians have been charged with the murder of a missing young man, but the body has yet to be found.

Bradley Wade Breward, 22, was last seen by friends celebrating the new year in Launceston city at a gathering at the suburb of Newnham.

Police will allege Mr Breward was punched, kicked and suffocated with a plastic bag in a residence in Newnham on New Year's Day, before his body was moved by the offenders and evidence dumped at another location.

A 25-year-old South Launceston man and a 41-year-old West Launceston were charged with murder on Friday and were due to appear in an after-hours court sitting in Launceston in the evening.

Detective Inspector John King said police are hopeful they will find Mr Breward's body as the two men are assisting police with their inquiries.

"We do know a rough area, we're concentrating all our resources to that area to the northwest of the state," Det Insp King told reporters.

Police believe a dispute over a stolen vehicle was the motivation for the murder.

The offenders do not know Mr Breward personally, Insp King said.

Police were speaking to other witnesses and say there is the possibility other people could be charged.