Sam Murphy’s accused murderer enlists top lawyer to lead defence

One of the nation’s top legal minds, who previously represented George Pell, will run Patrick Stephenson’s defence.

Ballarat mother of three Samantha Murphy has been missing since February 4.

The young man charged with the murder of missing Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy has enlisted one of the nation’s top legal minds to run his defence.

The Australian can reveal that solicitor Paul Galbally from Melbourne-based law firm Galbally O’Bryan has recently been hired by Patrick Orren Stephenson.

Mr Galbally has represented clients in some of the highest profile and most complex criminal trials including that of late Catholic cardinal George Pell who was convicted, before being later acquitted by the High Court, of historic child sex charges.

Homicide squad detectives arrested Mr Stephenson, 22, in the early hours of March 6 and charged him with murdering the 51-year-old mother of three.

The remains of Ms Murphy, who was last seen leaving her family’s Ballarat East home for a jog early on Sunday, February 4, have not been found despite multiple police searches of rugged bushland.

Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, was charged over the murder of missing Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy. Picture: Facebook

The Galbally O’Bryan website describes Mr Galbally as having “developed a reputation as a leading defence lawyer” who has “run some of the country’s largest and most complex criminal cases”.

“His experience includes representing clients before public inquiries, royal commissions and in defence of Australian Securities and Investments Commission prosecutions,” the firm states.

“Paul is recognised throughout the legal profession for his judgment, sound strategic advice and discretion and is featured in Doyles Guide as one of Australia’s pre-eminent criminal defence lawyers.”

Mr Galbally declined to comment when contacted on Monday by The Australian. But the law firm’s website quotes the veteran lawyer saying; “The opportunity to assist people from all walks of life with their problems is a great privilege and the catalyst for me to become a lawyer. Today, it still remains my driving force.”

Murdered Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy in CCTV footage from the morning she went missing.

In one of the biggest developments in the four months mystery, Victoria Police detectives last week found a mud-caked mobile phone on a dam bank during what has been described as a “targeted search” of a Buninyong farm.

The iPhone in a teal-coloured case is believed to have belonged to Ms Murphy, and police hope that data from the device might help them track her final movements.

The police have focused the search for Ms Murphy’s remains in the Buninyong Bushland Reserve about 14km from her Eureka St home. Mr Stephenson was arrested at a house just a few kilometres from the search zone.

Despite police employing specialist units including the search and rescue squad, mounted branch and dog squad the mother’s body has yet to be located. Mr Stephenson has been remanded in custody.