In the end, no battle was needed and the suppression order was withdrawn by Stephenson's own defence lawyer.
But in an extraordinary rant to the court, Mr Tamanika blasted Australia’s media for its advocation of an open justice system and insisted his application for the gag order had ‘bona fide’ reasons.
‘It is concerning that the application or granting of such orders can be, or is, immediately seen as being some form of underhanded move or manipulation by an accused person,' he said.
Mr Tamanika said his client had hoped to keep his father's name out of the press.
The man charged with the murder of Ballarat mother of three Samantha Murphy is the son of a former AFL footballer.
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