Major development in Samantha Murphy case
A trial date has been set for the man accused of murdering Ballarat mum Samantha Murphy.
Patrick Orren Stephenson, 23, is scheduled to face a Supreme Court trial for the alleged murder on April 8, 2026.
The trial is expected to last approximately six weeks, with pre-trial arguments for the prosecution and defence expected to begin in November 2025.
Stephenson has pleaded not guilty to Murphy's alleged murder. Patrick Orren Stephenson has been charged with the mum's alleged murder and pleaded not guilty. Sketch: NewsWire/ Paul Tyquin Credit: News Corp Australia
Ms Murphy, a mother-of-three, went for a run on the morning of February 4, 2024, through the Canadian State Forest and was never seen again.
Despite several searches across the Ballarat region, including the Enfield State Park, Canadian State Forest and Buninyong Bushland Reserve, there has been no trace of the mother.
Stephenson was arrested and charged with her murder a month later. Samantha Murphy has been missing since February 2024. Supplied. Credit: Supplied
Mr Stephenson was transported from Melbourne Assessment Prison to Enfield State Park, south of Ballarat, where excavators were used to dig up an undisclosed area.
This is the second time the 23-year-old was escorted to the bushland by police, though the mum's remains are yet to be found.
Police have not disclosed what led them to return to the search site, and it is not suggested Mr Stephenson's visit indicates he knows where Ms Murphy's body is.
In June last year, Murphy's iPhone, credit cards and driver's license were recovered in a teal case from the bottom of a dam in Buninyong.
According to police, her phone was in near-perfect condition when it was found.
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