Court hears Stephenson, 23, denies murdering Ballarat woman after her family last saw her leaving to go on a run
Patrick Orren Stephenson has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Samantha Murphy, the Ballarat magistrates court has heard.Patrick Orren Stephenson has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Samantha Murphy, the Ballarat magistrates court has heard.The Victorian man accused of killing missing Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy has pleaded not guilty to murder, with his case being fast-tracked to the state’s supreme court.
Patrick Stephenson, 23, appeared in the Ballarat magistrates court via video link, charged with the murder of Murphy. She was last seen more than nine months ago when she left her Ballarat East home to go for a run. Stephenson’s lawyer, Michael Allen, told the court his client had opted to waive committal proceedings and have his case fast-tracked to the Victorian supreme court.Murphy, 51, was last seen on 4 February, when she left her Ballarat East home to go for a run. She was captured on CCTV in the driveway of her family’s home, dressed in a maroon singlet and black running pants.Investigators allege Stephenson murdered Murphy in the Mount Clear area, about 7km from her home, on the day she disappeared.
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