Samantha Murphy Ballarat * Patrick Orren Stephenson Charged With Murder

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The Murder of Rebecca Young - Ballarat

The Murder of Hannah McGuire - Ballarat * Lachie Young charged



Allegedly
 
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It does but his guilty plea also shows he's prepared to admit it, the defence may use it.
Well, as this offence occured before the alleged murder and he has pleaded guilty this offence has entered the Court record, this may be used by either the prosecution or the defence may use it as they seem fit as long as the presiding Judge allows it.

Depends on what narrative the Defence is running

If they are using a "he wasn't there and the evidence is totally circumstantial", this may never be mentioned in the trial at all.

The prosecution may never mention it all if they are going for Murder rather than Manslaughter or Negligently causing death or similar
 
Well, as this offence occured before the alleged murder and he has pleaded guilty this offence has entered the Court record, this may be used by either the prosecution or the defence may use it as they seem fit as long as the presiding Judge allows it.

Depends on what narrative the Defence is running

If they are using a "he wasn't there and the evidence is totally circumstantial", this may never be mentioned in the trial at all.

The prosecution may never mention it all if they are going for Murder rather than Manslaughter or Negligently causing death or similar
He was charged with Murder & at the time of that charge Police were adamant that POS had deliberately conducted activity that he knew would / had the potential to cause Samantha’s death ( that’s a Murder charge) and they announced publicly that they had all the evidence necessary to substantiate that charge.

Since then, according to court submissions, we’ve heard that there is an unprecedented amount of information supporting their claim - so much information that the court had to allow additional time for his collation and consideration.

So - unless there’s a dramatic shift in POS’s attitude which leads to some sort of plea bargain between now and his next appearance in mid-Feb, I’m pretty sure that the Prosecutor will have no interest in any lesser charge such as Manslaughter or Negligently causing death etc.

POS is going to Trial on a Murder Charge, for which he’s pled Not Guilty.

If nothing else, that plea allows him to enjoy the blissful support of his family & girlfriend in their (perhaps ignorance) of his alleged guilt; it also allows him to continue his modus operandi of providing no assistance with the location of her body. … makes sense …. how would he know where her body is when he wasn’t involved ???

I’m struggling to think what the Defence angle will be ….. intoxication, drugs etc are no defence to a murder charge, he was capable of employment (since his bike accident) in a highly responsible position of messing around with electricity, so I can’t see ‘mental impairment’ being worth the time it takes to say it!

Back Story:

He supposedly went out on the town on Sat night 3rd Feb after his elderly relative’s birthday party - imo totally normal behaviour for young people.
He supposedly left his car at that relative’s place when he went out - sensible decision
He supposedly picked his car up at around 6am on 4th Feb. …

And here I have questions . ..
* did he walk to the relative’s place to get his car or did someone drop him off
* was he awake all night or did he sleep somewhere before picking his car up
* was he on his own or was someone with him when he picked his car up
* why did he need to collect his car so early on a Sunday morning, after a big night out ( most people expect young people to sleep til midday!)

I don’t know Ballarat, and I don’t understand the proximity of the City party precinct nor the suburbs & the various locations relative to each other. …. perhaps someone can help ..
* does anyone know where the party was
* what direction would POS go from there to either his parents place, his house-sit place or his gf’s parents place after collecting his car
* OR did he have somewhere else he had to go / be just after 6am that Sunday morning
* Gf’s father supposedly said he found POS asleep on their couch around 9am the morning of 4th Feb
** Police indicated that SM was killed around 8am
* what did POS do between 6am > 8am > 9am
* were Gf & POS not house-sitting at that stage ( I think their house-sit place was close to her parents. Perhaps parents have the place with the horses she was tending)
OR did Gf stay at her parents place that night, so he headed there that morning.

As I said, lots of questions, those will do for now 🤣
 

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I don’t know Ballarat, and I don’t understand the proximity of the City party precinct nor the suburbs & the various locations relative to each other. …. perhaps someone can help ..
* does anyone know where the party was
* what direction would POS go from there to either his parents place, his house-sit place or his gf’s parents place after collecting his car

* OR did he have somewhere else he had to go / be just after 6am that Sunday morning
* Gf’s father supposedly said he found POS asleep on their couch around 9am the morning of 4th Feb
** Police indicated that SM was killed around 8am
* what did POS do between 6am > 8am > 9am
* were Gf & POS not house-sitting at that stage ( I think their house-sit place was close to her parents. Perhaps parents have the place with the horses she was tending)
OR did Gf stay at her parents place that night, so he headed there that morning.

As I said, lots of questions, those will do for now 🤣
First couple of points I'll try and help out with:
From the city centre (night club area) to Midvale (small shopping complex given we don't have exact addresses to my knowledge of where exactly he was) in Mt Clear is approx 6km. Many a Uni student (myself included) have attempted the walk from city to uni (a little further down the road) so I don't think it would be out of the realms of possibility that he may have left the city area at 3/4am and walked out potentially with a group of friends. My guess though would likely be a taxi/uber back there.

South should have been the direction he was travelling back towards Geelong. However as that's a main road and as you said getting his car at 6am after a large night there are plenty of back dirt roads to get from a to b in this situation which is again potentially where he has crossed paths with SM. Going from Recreation Road Mt Clear to Yankee Flat Road then out to the house he was sitting at Scotsburn area would be the way I'd go if I was trying to avoid seeing anyone if I was unsure of BAC at time of driving.
 
He was charged with Murder & at the time of that charge Police were adamant that POS had deliberately conducted activity that he knew would / had the potential to cause Samantha’s death ( that’s a Murder charge) and they announced publicly that they had all the evidence necessary to substantiate that charge.

Since then, according to court submissions, we’ve heard that there is an unprecedented amount of information supporting their claim - so much information that the court had to allow additional time for his collation and consideration.

So - unless there’s a dramatic shift in POS’s attitude which leads to some sort of plea bargain between now and his next appearance in mid-Feb, I’m pretty sure that the Prosecutor will have no interest in any lesser charge such as Manslaughter or Negligently causing death etc.

POS is going to Trial on a Murder Charge, for which he’s pled Not Guilty.

If nothing else, that plea allows him to enjoy the blissful support of his family & girlfriend in their (perhaps ignorance) of his alleged guilt; it also allows him to continue his modus operandi of providing no assistance with the location of her body. … makes sense …. how would he know where her body is when he wasn’t involved ???

I’m struggling to think what the Defence angle will be ….. intoxication, drugs etc are no defence to a murder charge, he was capable of employment (since his bike accident) in a highly responsible position of messing around with electricity, so I can’t see ‘mental impairment’ being worth the time it takes to say it!

Back Story:

He supposedly went out on the town on Sat night 3rd Feb after his elderly relative’s birthday party - imo totally normal behaviour for young people.
He supposedly left his car at that relative’s place when he went out - sensible decision
He supposedly picked his car up at around 6am on 4th Feb. …

And here I have questions . ..
* did he walk to the relative’s place to get his car or did someone drop him off
* was he awake all night or did he sleep somewhere before picking his car up
* was he on his own or was someone with him when he picked his car up
* why did he need to collect his car so early on a Sunday morning, after a big night out ( most people expect young people to sleep til midday!)

I don’t know Ballarat, and I don’t understand the proximity of the City party precinct nor the suburbs & the various locations relative to each other. …. perhaps someone can help ..
* does anyone know where the party was
* what direction would POS go from there to either his parents place, his house-sit place or his gf’s parents place after collecting his car
* OR did he have somewhere else he had to go / be just after 6am that Sunday morning
* Gf’s father supposedly said he found POS asleep on their couch around 9am the morning of 4th Feb
** Police indicated that SM was killed around 8am
* what did POS do between 6am > 8am > 9am
* were Gf & POS not house-sitting at that stage ( I think their house-sit place was close to her parents. Perhaps parents have the place with the horses she was tending)
OR did Gf stay at her parents place that night, so he headed there that morning.

As I said, lots of questions, those will do for now 🤣
Between 8 and 9 is a tight window to kill someone, move them and fall asleep on a couch.
 
Between 8 and 9 is a tight window to kill someone, move them and fall asleep on a couch.
Agree, It just seems unbelievable that this could happen like this without being premeditated? Otherwise, you would think the police would have found SM by now and more clues would have been picked up.
If he did this, he wouldn't have been drug or alcohol effected, but acted coherently.

Timing would have played a big part, and possibly at what point SM was attacked ? Not to be seen by witnesses, waited until SM was getting a bit tired into her run, (7km) so she was easier to handle, then had to get her (supposedly) into a vehicle very quickly and drive away, knowing a search would be commenced shortly.
What plans he had organised before this ? Possibly with his girlfriend or others, on Sunday, 4 February 2024

There have been hundreds of searches organised through groups and police, in so many areas and there is still no trace of her or any belongings, except for her phone later on
I would have thought one of her running shoes or even sock/s could have slipped off during the assault or thrown into the bush or AirPods (If SM was wearing them)

What's interesting, we have not seen any CCTV from her security cameras of her leaving the house for her run and a full length of her clothing and shoes, but one still photo, holding a bag without date and time, the police have shown
I feel police seem a bit reluctant on describing the items SM had on her, at the time her phone, no description with her watch (model, colour band etc) what colour running shoes she was wearing on the day and did she have AirPods ? Why haven't the police been really upfront on these descriptions, so the public can be vigilant?

Then her phone turns up on 29 May 2024. Miraculously in good working order, with all her cards in place, despite being buried in mud at the edge of a private dam, why that particular dam?

PS being a young guy, not prison wise, isn't exactly banging the doors down either to want to get out after being in remand since March 6, 2024. He has remained silent and has pleaded not guilty

I just feel something is amiss here ?



I also find fascinating PS is still suffering from injuries from his motorcycling accident, 1 October 2023

Those injuries included a fractured vertebra, lacerated spleen, broken pelvis and ribs and minor head trauma.

But then Police allege he would go on to murder Ms Murphy just three months later despite his injuries.

Stephenson's lawyer Moya O'Brien told the court her client still suffered from those injuries, which had seen him return to hospital while behind bars.

The court heard Stephenson had lost control on a bend, going into a slide that left him crippled on the road.


 
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Agree, It just seems unbelievable that this could happen like this without being premeditated? Otherwise, you would think the police would have found SM by now and more clues would have been picked up.
If he did this, he wouldn't have been drug or alcohol effected, but acted coherently.

Timing would have played a big part, and possibly at what point SM was attacked ? Not to be seen by witnesses, waited until SM was getting a bit tired into her run, (7km) so she was easier to handle, then had to get her (supposedly) into a vehicle very quickly and drive away, knowing a search would be commenced shortly.
What plans he had organised before this ? Possibly with his girlfriend or others, on Sunday, 4 February 2024

There have been hundreds of searches organised through groups and police, in so many areas and there is still no trace of her or any belongings, except for her phone later on
I would have thought one of her running shoes or even sock/s could have slipped off during the assault or thrown into the bush or AirPods (If SM was wearing them)

What's interesting, we have not seen any CCTV from her security cameras of her leaving the house for her run and a full length of her clothing and shoes, but one still photo, holding a bag without date and time, the police have shown
I feel police seem a bit reluctant on describing the items SM had on her, at the time her phone, no description with her watch (model, colour band etc) what colour running shoes she was wearing on the day and did she have AirPods ? Why haven't the police been really upfront on these descriptions, so the public can be vigilant?

Then her phone turns up on 29 May 2024. Miraculously in good working order, with all her cards in place, despite being buried in mud at the edge of a private dam, why that particular dam?

PS being a young guy, not prison wise, isn't exactly banging the doors down either to want to get out after being in remand since March 6, 2024. He has remained silent and has pleaded not guilty

I just feel something is amiss here ?
To get bail on a murder charge is very difficult (in fact it used to be legislated againt)

The Police don't have to advise the media of all the elements they are using to make up their case and I could suggest they are trying to keep it low key to provide a fair jury pool selection to be conducted, unhampered by media supposition.

The defence is also playing it very quiet too. They have access to each element that the Prosecution will be leading at the trial and they are not forbidden from making any comment before the matter hits Court

If you're going to write conspiracy theories about something being "amiss here" at least give up the courtesy of elaborating these in full and how the treament of the case is not in accordance with procedure, precident and legislation

PS, a murder charge is not based on whether ir was premeditated or not, it is based in the intent. Was the victim's death come about by the accused's intent to kill or cause grievous bodily harm?
 
To get bail on a murder charge is very difficult (in fact it used to be legislated againt)

The Police don't have to advise the media of all the elements they are using to make up their case and I could suggest they are trying to keep it low key to provide a fair jury pool selection to be conducted, unhampered by media supposition.

The defence is also playing it very quiet too. They have access to each element that the Prosecution will be leading at the trial and they are not forbidden from making any comment before the matter hits Court

If you're going to write conspiracy theories about something being "amiss here" at least give up the courtesy of elaborating these in full and how the treament of the case is not in accordance with procedure, precident and legislation

I understand. But whether there is more to this, we'll just have to wait and see
 
I understand. But whether there is more to this, we'll just have to wait and see
i dunno, my feeling it is just a very simple pissing contest between a (possibly drug or alcohol affected) country town yobbo who considered himself a reincarnation of Juan Carlos Fangio being held to task by a middle aged woman (yes a woman!!!) making comment about his driving

Simple Road Rage by somebody who fluked the effective disposal of the body and is not giving up on it until he sees which way the Court case is going

What is going to be really interesting for me, is how much evidence can be deduced from mobile phone usage both actively and passively and CCTV and how it affects our privacy
 
i dunno, my feeling it is just a very simple pissing contest between a (possibly drug or alcohol affected) country town yobbo who considered himself a reincarnation of Juan Carlos Fangio being held to task by a middle aged woman (yes a woman!!!) making comment about his driving

Simple Road Rage by somebody who fluked the effective disposal of the body and is not giving up on it until he sees which way the Court case is going

What is going to be really interesting for me, is how much evidence can be deduced from mobile phone usage both actively and passively and CCTV and how it affects our privacy
Maybe ? The phone part will be interesting, they have to link him with that. Did he put it there ? Or did someone else after he was in prison ? I find it interesting that finding SM body has been extremely challenging, but her phone has been carelessly thrown into a private dam, in good working condition, intact with all her cards in place. Unless there is proof he has put the phone there, and If he did, it's in remarkably working condition, near the water's edge, before he's gone to prison, or It's possible a third party involvement. Two different people handling this? Someone sloppy or getting nervous to get rid of her phone quickly, and another person exceptional, precise in hiding her body so she's never found. Why wasn't her watch and possibly AirPods been thrown into the dam as well with her phone ?
 
Maybe ? The phone part will be interesting, they have to link him with that. Did he put it there ? Or did someone else after he was in prison ? I find it interesting that finding SM body has been extremely challenging, but her phone has been carelessly thrown into a private dam, in good working condition, intact with all her cards in place. Unless there is proof he has put the phone there, and If he did, it's in remarkably working condition, near the water's edge, before he's gone to prison, or It's possible a third party involvement. Two different people handling this? Someone sloppy or getting nervous to get rid of her phone quickly, and another person exceptional, precise in hiding her body so she's never found. Why wasn't her watch and possibly AirPods been thrown into the dam as well with her phone ?
Someone told them it was there. They didn't stumble across it.
 
Maybe ? The phone part will be interesting, they have to link him with that. Did he put it there ? Or did someone else after he was in prison ? I find it interesting that finding SM body has been extremely challenging, but her phone has been carelessly thrown into a private dam, in good working condition, intact with all her cards in place. Unless there is proof he has put the phone there, and If he did, it's in remarkably working condition, near the water's edge, before he's gone to prison, or It's possible a third party involvement. Two different people handling this? Someone sloppy or getting nervous to get rid of her phone quickly, and another person exceptional, precise in hiding her body so she's never found. Why wasn't her watch and possibly AirPods been thrown into the dam as well with her phone ?
All that is immaterial to the case and creating minutae for the commentators on BF to obsess over.

I would suggest that the Police have evidence that both the accused and the victim were on the same stretch of the road at the same time and only one left.

If her phone measured the health parameters and these were captured the prosecution may know the time of her last heart beat and if the heart didn't restart before her phone stopped pinging totally the before the accused's phone left the site an assumption may be made that the owner if the phone took the body and phone at the same time.

The phone discovery may gave been advertised to put pressure on the accused but the police may have been happy purely so they could physically check the phone was in working order and to check for anything that might be on theSIM or in the memory that hadn't been uploaded to the cloud.

There case is going to be rely on a circumstantial evidence

Ballarat CSI aren't going find the smoking gun evidence to prove guilt or other wise in 60 minutes less ad breaks
 

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Samantha Murphy Ballarat * Patrick Orren Stephenson Charged With Murder

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