Explainer: What happened to alleged murder victim Scot Phillips and who is Cooper Benny

When the power was cut to Scot Phillips’ home, he went outside to investigate and was fatally ambushed. The identity of his alleged killer has now been revealed – so what’s next?

Scot Phillips was a beloved friend and family member allegedly lured from his home by an attacker who tricked him into coming outside to check his power supply.

Now, the identity of his alleged killer has been revealed, but what is next in Scot’s murder case, and who is Cooper Benny?

What happened to Scot?

Scot Phillips was a kind man who just wanted to be loved and didn’t deserve to die in such awful circumstances, his big sister says.

The 19-year-old was stabbed multiple times with a large knife outside of his Carey Ave home, in Seaton, on the evening of September 10, in what police have described as a planned attack.

Emergency services attended the scene at 10.20pm and despite the rapid response by ambulance officers, Mr Phillips died at the scene.

Alleged murder victim Scot Phillips. Photo supplied by family

Alleged murder victim Scot Phillips. Photo supplied by family

Following the incident, Major Crime Investigation Branch boss Superintendent Des Bray said the attack occurred when the victim, his housemate and his friend’s girlfriend arrived home from the Seaton Hotel.

Supt Bray said the power was cut to the house and when the victim went outside to investigate he “was immediately set upon by at least one person”.

“It was an ambush, in the sense that switching the power off lured him outside,” Supt Bray said. “The person was armed. He was waiting, and he unleashed a furious attack on the victim.”

Blood could be seen on the wall of the property. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Who has been charged?

On September 12 – two days after Scot’s alleged murder – police announced an arrest had been made in relation to the murder investigation.

Cooper Benny, 19, faced Adelaide Magistrates Court late that afternoon after detectives revealed they had arrested him after an investigation into Mr Phillips’ death, but were yet to charge anyone with murder.

Supt Bray told media Mr Benny had been charged with firearms and drug offences.

“We believed (Mr Benny) may be a person of interest to the investigation, but we have no evidence to incriminate that person at this time,” he said.

Alleged murderer Cooper Benny. Picture: 7NEWS

Mr Benny made no application for bail, but prosecutors told the court they needed five months to conduct forensic procedures on the firearms allegedly found in his possession.

The following day – September 13 – SA Police revealed another arrest had been made, and that person had been charged with murder, however officers would be seeking a suppression order on the identity of the alleged killer.

The man – later revealed to also be Mr Benny, from Hectorville – made no bail application and was remanded in custody.

Why was there a secrecy order?

On the afternoon of the murder hearing, prosecutors asked the court for a suppression on the accused man’s identity due to ongoing witness interviews.

Magistrate Ben Sale agreed it was appropriate to keep the man’s identity a secret for at least 28 days while police finalised the investigation.

However, on Monday, that suppression was revoked, allowing media to finally release the identity of the alleged killer after four weeks of anonymity.

Where from here?

Mr Benny will return to court in February for the firearms and drugs charges, but his next appearance for the murder charge was adjourned until November, 2025.

He will remain in custody, unless he chooses to apply for bail at an earlier hearing.

Originally published as Explainer: What happened to alleged murder victim Scot Phillips and who is Cooper Benny