Australia Samantha Murphy, 51, last seen leaving her property to go for a run in the Canadian State Forest, Ballarat 100km NW of Melbourne, 4 Feb 2024 #7

[Dr Samoht]

It seemed like they were only focused on searching a small section today. Maybe efforts still continue this week.

The process of elimination?

Trying to scare people connected to the accused into coming forward with more info?

Why were there police there on dirtbikes? Not sure what role they play riding around on dirt trails?

Interesting...

No plans to continue the search over the coming days … perhaps in some weeks .

 

[Warshawski]

It has to solid gold stuff, DR. S.... VICPOL are not mucking around, here.. Someone posted that the police often downgrade charges, in this instance, I would not want to be hanging by my fingernails for a downgrade, VICPOL doesn't go for murder without a whole lot of backup, it serves no purpose, to charge high then go low. It is more likely that more charges will be laid against the suspect. Not less. 'Interfering with a corpse' comes to mind, which has obviously been done. Since her body is not where she was murdered.

Him refusing to give the location of the body gives him no leverage, and merely exacerbates his already precarious situation. VICPOL are experienced in taking a murder charge thru court, with a conviction , without the body.

What has surprised me is, he seems to have no Barrister promoting his innocence. Usually, there would be a cross looking barrister, clobbered up in court gear, outside the Supreme court , fresh from winning his latest case, to heap scorn on VICPOL, ' a bunch of charlatans, ' and defiantly announce his client will defend the outrageous claim. .. This has not happened, and this, to me , is highly unusual.

He is 22, probably has no assets, except his ute, his Legal Aid application would have nothing to do with his parents situation, or his sisters, it rests on his only, he being an adult, so that should be well and truly in the pipeline by now, all done and dusted. Legal Aid is what any citizen is entitled to, who is financially hampered by cost. Tax payer funded, and run, usually very well. A panel of legal experts examine your case, and even if it looks hopeless, you are entitled , in Victoria, to the very best legal representation. No ifs, or buts. The only difference is, if you pay yourself, you are in charge, on Legal Aid, you are not in charge, you have to be guided by the expert panel. ..... so there is that catch.


So why are we not seeing his 'barking dog' barking for him?? mystery.

I’m thinking he may not qualify for Legal Aid. I think it’s based on assets as well as earnings so his vehicle (+ anything else) would be included in the assessment. He possibly earns close to 2k per week, imo.
I was speaking to a large business owner the other day & they are finding it impossible to find electricians to employ in Vic.

 

[Warshawski]

would the request for no help from the public be because they are fairly confident theyll find sms body in this new location?

I think possibly to make sure no cross contamination & that the search is totally controlled & targeted.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

It has to solid gold stuff, DR. S.... VICPOL are not mucking around, here.. Someone posted that the police often downgrade charges, in this instance, I would not want to be hanging by my fingernails for a downgrade, VICPOL doesn't go for murder without a whole lot of backup, it serves no purpose, to charge high then go low. It is more likely that more charges will be laid against the suspect. Not less. 'Interfering with a corpse' comes to mind, which has obviously been done. Since her body is not where she was murdered.

Him refusing to give the location of the body gives him no leverage, and merely exacerbates his already precarious situation. VICPOL are experienced in taking a murder charge thru court, with a conviction , without the body.

What has surprised me is, he seems to have no Barrister promoting his innocence. Usually, there would be a cross looking barrister, clobbered up in court gear, outside the Supreme court , fresh from winning his latest case, to heap scorn on VICPOL, ' a bunch of charlatans, ' and defiantly announce his client will defend the outrageous claim. .. This has not happened, and this, to me , is highly unusual.

He is 22, probably has no assets, except his ute, his Legal Aid application would have nothing to do with his parents situation, or his sisters, it rests on his only, he being an adult, so that should be well and truly in the pipeline by now, all done and dusted. Legal Aid is what any citizen is entitled to, who is financially hampered by cost. Tax payer funded, and run, usually very well. A panel of legal experts examine your case, and even if it looks hopeless, you are entitled , in Victoria, to the very best legal representation. No ifs, or buts. The only difference is, if you pay yourself, you are in charge, on Legal Aid, you are not in charge, you have to be guided by the expert panel. ..... so there is that catch.


So why are we not seeing his 'barking dog' barking for him?? mystery.

Thank you for this post @Trooper . Early on, I had truly wondered if they were going gangbusters but would lower the charges. Your words here, confirm "the best outcome" in my mind.

 

[Warshawski]

They may have received more forensic data too by now, maybe his google maps location data etc?

More phone data, from his phone on the day perhaps

 

[Minaka]

Today's search area is very, VERY interesting.

February 16, 2024. The police helicopter, after conducting some searches, landed for approx 1 hour before departing the area. (Source: ADBS exchange)

March 20, 2024. The new police search base is established only a few hundred metres from where the police helicopter landed in February.

Chopper now circling small area. I wonder, do they have to liase/cooperate with law enforcement on the ground?

View attachment 491654

Edit: References from the DM in regard to the timeline of the police helicopter landing:

Wednesday, February 14: Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton confirms detectives are treating Ms Murphy's disappearance is suspicious.

Detectives from Victoria Police's Missing Persons Unit spend an hour at the Murphy family's property.

It is revealed Ruby has died.

Friday, February 16: Ms Murphy's uncle and aunt, Allan and Janice Robson, tell Daily Mail Australia they believe their niece was a victim of foul play.

Ms Robson theorises the mother was targeted by a deranged stalker, saying: 'I would say that somebody would have been watching her. I can't think it would be anything else.'

Monday, February 19: Mick Murphy issues public plea, saying: 'We want Sam home please.'

He claims his family are 'doing the best we can under the circumstances'.

Thursday, February 22: Dozens of detectives from specialist units are assigned to the case.

 

[louisepiglet]

No, I think we will find that was for regular prison. (This is the original post by Slouth)


The link that JLZ later posted about remand says that the prisoners may have more visits and phone calls when on remand. I would imagine that they still have to be on an approved-by-the-prisoner list, though.

People on remand:

• Are not held with convicted prisoners (unless this is impractical)
• May have more access to visitors and phone calls to lawyers and legal representation
• Have access to a legal library
• May wear their own clothing, if applicable to their security rating
• May work

Understanding remand in Victoria — Vanessa Ash Law

Remand is a form of prison that has less restrictions and is temporary until the trial is carried out.

vanessaash.com.au

Fair enough. When they are on remand they should be presumed innocent and not treated like a criminal.

 

[jjleroche]

Pressure to confess? Pressure to come forward?

I'm sure word would get to PS on remand they are out searching using all resources available

IMO the exercise today would have seen "pressure" being experienced by various individuals.

Yes, I agree Whatson that PS would have heard pretty quickly.

I have a feeling that his disinterest in "opening up" has been largely due to a completely baseless belief that he''s smarter than "the cops". IMO a confession is still a fair way off, but I imagine that his comfort level may have deteriorated somewhat after today's exercise.

Other parties, whether they knew anything about the alleged murder, or maybe just suspected something, would have felt some pressure to come forward IMO. JMO

 

[louisepiglet]

I believe it was a Snapchat video. From my limited understanding of Snapchat, the users post snippets of videos and they're meant to disappear after 24 hours, but of course there are ways of saving, or recording these. What I will never understand is why people are quite happy to be caught on video, or have photos taken of them, doing illegal things. I am so happy I grew up in a time before the internet, where the only evidence of anything embarrassing is in people's memories. All the fun, zero evidence.

This has been my thought. Young people seem to prefer Snap Chat. Another interesting feature of SnapChat is the ability to follow a persons location when it is accessed.

 

[bearbear]

In a past link someone posted here about different remand centres and what happens at each, I'm pretty sure I read that prisoners on remand only get one visit per month, and it has to be someone on the approved list. The accused would have to allow his parents to visit him to be on the list, and I'm not sure how many people can visit at a time.

ok, yes i remember, i wonder if theyve visited or if hes allowed them to? that would be an awkward conversation

 

[ProfCluezo]

DBM
(Delectably Bad Maleficence)

 

[HoneyBunOne]

I’m thinking he may not qualify for Legal Aid. I think it’s based on assets as well as earnings so his vehicle (+ anything else) would be included in the assessment. He possibly earns close to 2k per week, imo.
I was speaking to a large business owner the other day & they are finding it impossible to find electricians to employ in Vic.

What's interesting is the fact there could easily be a grey area where you don't qualify for legal aid, but can't possibly afford even a junior lawyer to pursue the case to completion. A bit like the working poor. I'd be interested to know what the threshold of assets is to qualify. (Off to Google said question)
Edited to add this link, which is not entirely clear to me:

12 – Means test | VLA Handbook for Lawyers

Our organisation uses the means test to asses the income and the assets of a person applying for a grant of assistance to decide whether to provide a grant of assistance and if the person will have to pay a contribution towards their legal costs.

www.handbook.vla.vic.gov.au

 

[bearbear]

I've tried to imagine what this very short encounter between Mrs. Murphy, jogging along, and Mr. S . doing what? just standing there? . running in the opposite direction? ... Did she have something he wanted urgently? her phone? what was it that made him approach her. And then, kill her.

Not knowing anything about her, who she was, she knew nothing about him , who he was, they had no background of disturbance. Two complete strangers on a bush track, on a warm and sunny Sunday morning.

Bright sunlight, no cloud cover, she with her brunch to get smartened up for, him with what to do that day? chores? car maintenance? lunch with the girlfriend?

What set him off? was he ready for her? or him? whatever came down the track?? I want to know these things. Women's lives are becoming restricted, and contained, out of safety, it's horrid, and intolerable.

i can imagine them passing each other going in different directions and as they pass he does a quick turnaround and grabs her from behind overpowering her, really quickly

 

[tiff]

- Grandiose sense of self importance?

- Preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited power and brilliance?

- Belief in “specialness” and unique abilities?

- Sense of entitlement?

- Lacks empathy?

Goodness me…. 5+. Kicking goals for sure….

But pride always comes before a fall… as they say…

**Forgo the cryptic crossword for today…in lieu of this cryptic comment by conscious design** (for those so inclined)

I feel it’s a bit of a mixture. A possible fight with his GF (or another person) along with knowing he’s not making it to his DD’s footballing career heights, is thinking he’s not good enough,so he will show the rest of the world, and he is so angry he’s thinking I hate her or them (GF) I’m going to kill her after their argument, is as high as a kite, and mistakes SM for his GF or the other aggrieved party. Done and dusted.

 

[detailia]

Maybe the police have proof that the accused killed SM’s dog?

 

[Warshawski]

This is an excellent point. I know we have at least 2 RNs on board here
Can an in taking RN please elaborate on this particular point ie. bloods? Thank you.

I’ve never been arrested / charged with any crime.
Blood tests are very often done on drivers involved in any form of accident or crime involving the vehicle, but I don’t know about in other crimes.

Having said that, PS was arrested 5 weeks after the incident for which he’s been charged. I doubt there’d be anything still in his blood at that time.

Imo

 

[Warshawski]

Daily Mail/Facebook


View attachment 491711

Guide Dog ? and were searching on the road ?

 

[Nifty]

Knowing this you would have to wonder why todays intensive , well resourced search was concluded at 3.30 pm with four hours daylight remaining!
Were they given a ‘bum steer’ ?

Something is going on ....

 

[Nifty]

Guide Dog ? and were searching on the road ?

Police dog / sniffer dog

 

[DK007]

He can’t be questioned again, unless he gives permission

He’s not going to be before the courts until August .

So forget about getting any help from him !

Imoo… I hope they throw the book at him if he’s found guilty. For the family to plead with him to find SM is devastatingly heartbreaking.