Patrick Orren Stephenson pleads not guilty to murdering Samantha Murphy

The man accused of murdering Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy has pleaded not guilty as his separate charges against him are revealed.

The grieving husband of missing woman Samantha Murphy put on a brave face as his wife’s accused killer formally pleaded not guilty to her murder.

Patrick Orren Stephenson, 23, appeared in the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court via video link on Thursday where the court heard he had decided to bypass a committal hearing testing the evidence against him and fast track his case straight to the Supreme Court for trial.

Mrs Murphy’s husband, Mick, looked on stoically during the short administrative hearing where Mr Stephenson formally entered his plea.

It marked the first time Mr Murphy had attended court in person.

Samantha Murphy hasn’t been seen since she left her Ballarat East home on February 4.

He previously told the Herald Sun he had driven past the courthouse when Mr Stephenson faced court in August, unable to bring himself to go inside.

The accused killer was asked by Magistrate Mark Stratmann how he pleaded to a single charge of murder.

“Not guilty, Your Honour,” replied Mr Stephenson, who appeared via video link from Melbourne Assessment Prison wearing a white T-shirt and sporting a beard.

Mr Stephenson, the son of ex-AFL star Orren Stephenson, is accused of killing Mrs Murphy who hasn’t been seen since she left her Ballarat East home to go for a run on February 4.

Extensive searches to find her body have so far been unsuccessful.

Mr Stephenson made no application for bail, and will next appear for a directions hearing in the Supreme Court on November 27.

Those accused of homicide and attempted homicide are able to fast-track their cases under new rules that came in place following the Covid pandemic.

Rather than testing the evidence in the lower magistrates’ court before committing the matter up, a fast-tracked case would mean the Supreme Court would run preliminary hearings – which can’t be reported by the media – where witnesses are cross-examined in preparation for trial.

Patrick Orren Stephenson formally entered a plea of not guilty.

Separately, Mr Stephenson also faces separate allegations of drug and drink driving.

He been charged with driving under the influence of MDMA and booze just months before Mrs Murphy went missing.

Charge sheets reveal that the accused killer allegedly drove with a blood alcohol reading almost three times over the legal limit, at 0.148, and with MDMA in his system on October 1, 2023.

The allegations come four months before Mr Stephenson is accused of murdering Mrs Murphy after she left her Ballarat East home on a morning run, on February 4 this year.

Samantha Murphy’s husband, Mick Murphy, outside Ballarat Magistrates’ Court. Picture: Ian Wilson

Mr Stephenson faces five driving-related charges from October 1, 2023, including careless driving along Armstrong St.

A further two offences relate to drink driving, and the final two charges relate to drug driving with MDMA in his system.

He was charged with the driving matters in March this year, just days after he appeared in court on a charge of murder.

His driving charges were adjourned to the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court to December 2.

Originally published as Patrick Orren Stephenson pleads not guilty to murdering Samantha Murphy