Australia Samantha Murphy, 51, last seen leaving her property to go for a run in the Canadian State Forest, Ballarat, 4 Feb 2024 *Arrest* #10

[Warshawski]

O/T

I heard on the radio news today that someone set up a fund raising account for Hannah's family. Then stole the entire $66,000. They have been arrested for theft.

imo

Jail time I hope, followed by public duties in lieu of ability to pay it back - that’s my suggestion.

 

[Marie A]

I honestly cannot understand why the church would be willing to spend that amount of money to represent a lowly apprentice electrician who has a questionable past. Im sure members of the church who make donations would not be expecting the funds would be used in this manner.

Hell will freeze over before the Roman Catholic Church spends a single penny on the defense of this incarcerated supposed perp.
Rolling my eyes at how this rumor was ever started but rest assured, it is a RUMOR and not one that has any teeth

All IMHO

 

[Marie A]

I am taking that 'been hired' with a bit of salt and pepper, .. it's a bit of lingua franca of newspaperspeak, as a descriptor, not as a claim of a fiscal contract....

just my perspective, though..

I agree. Well stated.

I just don’t think that PS won the “public defender” lottery and was randomly assigned Galbally to defend him.

I personally think Galbally solicited PS as a client and is greatly reducing or waving his regular fees for whatever reason (notoriety, connections to the family through a strong friendship) ???
Time may reveal his motivations.
I’m curious indeed.

IMHO

 

[Dotta]

Hell will freeze over before the Roman Catholic Church spends a single penny on the defense of this incarcerated supposed perp.
Rolling my eyes at how this rumor was ever started but rest assured, it is a RUMOR and not one that has any teeth

All IMHO

Amen!

 

[Rocket333]

Galbally & O’Bryan​

Defences of murder​

Depending on the facts of each case, a number of defences may be available to a person accused of murder. Our experienced criminal defence lawyerswill be able to assess your case and determine whether any legal defence is applicable. These might include:

• Self-defence;
• Duress;
• Sudden and extraordinary emergency;
• Automatism; or
• Provocation

Please note that the defence of provocation only applies to homicides committed prior to 23 November 2005.​

Should any of these defences be made out, or the prosecution fail to prove all elements beyond a reasonable doubt, the accused cannot be held criminally responsible.

Murder and Manslaughter Offences | Galbally & O’Bryan Lawyers, Melbourne

In Victoria, there are different offences that relate to the unlawful killing of another person. These include murder and manslaughter. If you or someone you know has been charged with one of these offences, it is imperative to seek legal advice. Contact our Galbally & O'Bryan's team of expert...

www.galballyobryan.com.au

What other legal defences might be used in this particular case? The automatism defence (included as a possible legal defence on Galbally’s website, as above) is interesting.

 

[Dotta]

What other legal defences might be used in this particular case? The automatism defence (included as a possible legal defence on Galbally’s website, as above) is interesting.

Link below:

"Automatism
is a legal defence
that refers to an act
committed without conscious volition,

that is action, occurring in
the absence of an accused's will."



Police stated clearly that the attack was 'deliberate'.
(according to MSM reports known to general public)

In other words,
done consciously and intentionally.

JMO

Automatism | Sane vs Insane Automatism | Criminal Lawyers

Automatism can be used where an Accused accepts the facts but claims that the offences were committed involuntarily. Sane vs Insane Automatism

www.criminalsolicitorsmelbourne.com.au

 

[Trooper]

What other legal defences might be used in this particular case? The automatism defence (included as a possible legal defence on Galbally’s website, as above) is interesting.

It is one of the favorite defence propositions put forward by rapists.

' I don't know what came over me, your worship', I was sound asleep !'. ( A Swede bloke was aquitted on this ground back in 2014) He claimed he had sexomnia, which I don't feel like expanding upon .

One famous case concerned a Mrs Cogden. 1950 ( the date is significant, in reference to the claim , Nth Korea on the bounce over Sth Korea, Australian troops sent to the DMZ).

In that case, Melbourne woman Mrs Cogdon was charged with the murder of her 19 year-old daughter, after the girl was killed with an axe in her bed during the night. The accused suffered from anxiety and vivid nightmares. On the night of the alleged murder, she claimed that she had been dreaming that her daughter was being attacked in her bedroom by Korean soldiers. In her sleep she took an axe to her daughter’s bedroom and killed her daughter in the process of trying to attack the soldiers. Mrs Cogdon received a full acquittal on the basis of sane automatism.

( interestingly, to me, I wonder what nationality of soldier would one claim was knocking on the door today ) ..

 

[JLZ]

( interestingly, to me, I wonder what nationality of soldier would one claim was knocking on the door today ) ..

Ha. I hope I never dream of BR-S. Anyway the local police are a more likely threat.

 

[BreakingNews]

I find it difficult to believe PS parents have moved out of state by choice. He is still their son and I would have thought at least one of his parents would have stayed in the vicinity to support him.

Why? They have 2 daughters to protect.

 

[Algorithm]

I read in the Lynn case that police set up the 60 minutes story as part of their strategy which I found very interesting.

No doubt following the discovery of SM’s phone, everything we hear from now on will be strategised. I’m really keen to see the next development and hopefully find SM

 

[Trooper]

I find it difficult to believe PS parents have moved out of state by choice. He is still their son and I would have thought at least one of his parents would have stayed in the vicinity to support him.

There have been no reports of the family leaving at the point of armed escort. No convoy of black heavily toughened vehicles escorted them up the Hume Freeway. No deployment of soldiers guarding their current whereabouts. No extra squad of cranky constables seconded to their area.

For all anyone knows , every suspect's parents get out of town very smartly.. What about Lachlan Youngs oldies? where are they? where are Arthur Freemans parents? who knows where Adrian Bayleys mum and dad are? where are John Sharpe's parents? Where is Sarah Ristevkski? ( hint. out of town ) I could go on, but I am sure you get my drift..

Maybe their son has abandoned them. Maybe they are not on the list of visitors, this is his choice, not theirs.

I merely put forward alternative views, which have as much credibility, maybe a tad more, actually. .

 

[Cliff Hardy]

I find it difficult to believe PS parents have moved out of state by choice. He is still their son and I would have thought at least one of his parents would have stayed in the vicinity to support him.

I have said it before but I'll say it again. Could it be that there is a real or perceived threat to their wellbeing and that's why they have moved?

 

[sistermadly32]

I find it difficult to believe PS parents have moved out of state by choice. He is still their son and I would have thought at least one of his parents would have stayed in the vicinity to support him.

Maybe he isn’t talking to them either…

 

[HoneyBunOne]

I have said it before but I'll say it again. Could it be that there is a real or perceived threat to their wellbeing and that's why they have moved?

Absolutely, and I personally don't think it's a dark, underworld type threat. We know press descended on the Stephenson family home, and that is intense enough. Add in the potential of some misguided enraged locals with a mob mentality and there's a genuine fear for your physical and mental wellbeing.

Can anyone actually find evidence they moved interstate and not just away?

 

[JLZ]

I have said it before but I'll say it again. Could it be that there is a real or perceived threat to their wellbeing and that's why they have moved?

But have they moved? Or did they take a few weeks to collapse in the care of friends and then come back?

 

[Trooper]

I have said it before but I'll say it again. Could it be that there is a real or perceived threat to their wellbeing and that's why they have moved?

well ... you' d think they'd take Mick with them, after all.. If anyone has been , both in thought and in deed been threatened in the worst way, it would be the Murphys'..........

 

[Scooby-Doo]

I find it difficult to believe PS parents have moved out of state by choice. He is still their son and I would have thought at least one of his parents would have stayed in the vicinity to support him.

None of his family or friends supported him, when he appeared in his first court hearing. That says a lot !

 

[Cliff Hardy]

well ... you' d think they'd take Mick with them, after all.. If anyone has been , both in thought and in deed been threatened in the worst way, it would be the Murphys'..........

Fair point but the narrative as I see it, would potentially have the other family more at risk. Not going to elaborate further, as the last time I did my post was removed.

 

[Trooper]

None of his family or friends supported him, when he appeared in his first court hearing. That says a lot !

He 'appeared ' by ZOOM, from Melbourne where he was in the remand centre, televised to Ballarat Court. The camera would not be panning around to anyone in attendance for the convenience of the accused , and his emotions., or theirs, for that matter.

The parents would not have been able to speak to him via ZOOM as the televising is for the magistrate, not for the public to engage in chit chat with a loved one.

It is entirely possible that the magistrate let the S family watch the proceedings in his private chambers, to spare them the inevitable witless nonsense that may disturb the court. This is often the procedure, and nothing unusual about that.

They may have certainly 'appeared' so to speak, but not as the newspapers would have wished them to, that is, be publicly howling and snuffling for the papers clickbait. Magistrates are quite attuned to the variables in public procedures and often make arrangements that are sensitive and , oddly, kind, and well within their purview to do.

 

[jjleroche]

Chuckling at one of your lines Troop

Absolutely, and I personally don't think it's a dark, underworld type threat. We know press descended on the Stephenson family home, and that is intense enough. Add in the potential of some misguided enraged locals with a mob mentality and there's a genuine fear for your physical and mental wellbeing.

Can anyone actually find evidence they moved interstate and not just away?

I completely agree HoneyBunOne.

IMO members of the Stephenson family are undoubtedly already experiencing a huge load of stress and grief.

The thought of a horde of rabid journalists descending on myself or a family member in such circumstances would definitely encourage me to high-tail it out of town quick smart, at the very least until enough time had passed in order to respond to any questions in an eloquent, sensible manner. JMO