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

[Lemony]

It is possible that Galbally would take a high profile case for the exposure, and accept the Legal Aid fees as payment.
Sometimes high profile lawyers represent their client on a pro bono basis.

imo

People have wondered how Greg Lynn can afford Barrister Dermot Dann KC ... not realising that Dann is on the list of Vic Legal Aid approved barristers. (I don't think Galbally is a barrister, he appears to be described as an Accredited Criminal Specialist)

Who is on the Criminal Trial Preferred Barrister List

Barristers on this list are able to represent legally aided accused in criminal trials.

www.legalaid.vic.gov.au

I wouldn't be surprised if this turns out to be correct. This case has a very high profile and this will continue right through to the end of the trial and beyond imo

A quick google shows that Paul Galbally was on Susan Neil-Fraser's probono legal team.

Susan Neill-Fraser's second appeal against her murder conviction has been dismissed. What comes next?

Susan Neill-Fraser's second appeal against her murder conviction has failed — but it's the dissenting opinion of one justice that could provide a pathway for her case to reach the High Court, writes Loretta Lohberger.

www.abc.net.au

 

[ProfCluezo]

What kind of payment would legal aid fees entail?

 

[mamamama9873]

Why on earth would the media follow PS' family around? They haven't allegedly committed murder.


11. Respect private grief and personal privacy.

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The media published many photos of the family of the recent murderer of two men in inner Sydney. They also went to interview his father.

The media stalked the family of the recent Bondi Westfield murderer. They camped outside their house until they started talking

 

[Trooper]

Can someone speak to why the legal help is hired now? Is it a coincidence or is it influenced by the phone being found?

One of the irritating things about life is, some things are not plainly laid out!. I would like to attempt to speak to why, on a purely amateur basis.

What we do not know... ( to start with ) Yes, it was announced on Monday, that Mr P Galbally was his barrister. The announcement was a delightful obscurity in that it did not say, how long has he been his barrister, exactly when he was appointed, ( this is crucial info, IMO ), who is paying, and the article made no reference to the finding of the phone as related to his appointment.

So, we do not know if Galbally was appointed by the court. This is entirely possible, Mr S is entitled to representation and since it is a Supreme Court trial ( murder always is) he requires a Supreme Court qualified barrister. We, the taxpayer fund this, for anyone in this situation. You, the taxpayer would foot the bill for me. .

The roster for this assignment is always secret, even the barristers don't know, but they are not allowed to refuse. The first cab off the rank rule , rules. If it is this case he got a lucky draw, because Paul is Barrister of the Year, no small label.

If this is the scenario, the mystery remains as to why it has taken so long for a barrister to be appointed, if the appointment was on Monday. If it was months back , why the secrecy? It's a reasonable question.


It is difficult to believe that the announcement, on the heels of the phone finding is not related. It may not be, but my money is on , it is.

Deeply related, This is 8 weeks out from trial and the axis has somewhat shifted, in so far as a small unravelling of the murder with potentially huge and fast unravelling looming up , that a possibly new date for the summary hearing may be coming up.

It is difficult to believe that Patrick Stephenson, a 22 yr old electrician apprentice, can cough up Paul's fees. So someone else is paying, if this is a private hire, and not an assigned hire.

I do not think even his father and mother would have the collateral for what may be a very prolonged legal stoush,.

One thing I would offer is, it would be pointless hiring Galbally if you are going to plead guilty. If you've been assigned Galbally, it would be equally pointless, so I expect a not guilty plea and let the chips fall where they may.


It will not faze the very very savvy Barristers who work for the Dept. of Public Prosecutors, though, this is meat and beer to them, just a days work, the Galbally frere know this very well, it is not an unequal contest, by any means.

 

[Skyboy90]

I think the family here moved away swiftly when the news came. I remember media hanging around the front of the residence looking for the parents, but they had already left. I recall the media also went around to the local football clubs and so on trying to get more details about them.

The media ended up just interviewing all the neighbours.

Can anyone tell me, do the parents in this situation need to get interviewed by Police? He wasn’t living with them I note.

 

[Trooper]

Galbally’s reputation certainly precedes him. He already sounds like a violent misogynists dream. Will he depict PS as a model of innocent manhood or as the victim of feminist provocation gone wrong?

A good barrister can project many facets, all of which appear to be the genuine thing.. one day a promoter of old lady bashing, next day a protector of sleazy off course betting spivs.. it's all in a days work.

The feminist provocation thing ( gritted teeth , here ) was once a real thing in Victoria 's courts. Back in 2003, Jamie Ramage murdered his wife, and claimed provocation, he said she made disparaging remarks about certain bodily parts attached to his person, which made him strangle her. He got 8 years for it, but the backlash was immense from Victoria's mouthy women, and the statute was struck from the ledger, no bloke can pull that one off again.

Galbally will float with the vibe, as they say. I do wonder what the defence will consist off. The curiousity is in overdrive.

 

[Trooper]

Wonder if PS via Mr Galbaly will press for a plea deal - was car accident, panicked and hid body. Tell where body is for culpable driving guilty plea.

Commander Patton was clear and concise about that, when asked, he said, ' it was not a hit and run'..

 

[Trooper]

I think the family here moved away swiftly when the news came. I remember media hanging around the front of the residence looking for the parents, but they had already left. I recall the media also went around to the local football clubs and so on trying to get more details about them.

The media ended up just interviewing all the neighbours.

Can anyone tell me, do the parents in this situation need to get interviewed by Police? He wasn’t living with them I note.

I suppose every murderers parents get interviewed by the police, generally speaking. Did his parents need to get interviewed. ?.. need being the operative, I suppose so, because there was some story that he was sort of inbetween homes, going back and forth to his girlfriends and his parents home, and he actually worked for his father on a daily basis, so.. it would be advantageous to interview them , one could argue.

 

[nightrider17]

If SM's phone was with her while PS drove around looking for a suitable place to hide her body and the phone was only disposed of afterwards on the return journey back to his place. Just saying. JMO

Could SM's phone reveal a location detail if the Police believe it's in good working order?? MOO

 

[Sor Juana]

Meanwhile my theory for the whole thing is this was a planned murder though not a specifically planned target, motivated by sexual assault. Body was easily stashed in the back of the ute and disposed of in less populated forest, and phone was lobbed over the raspberry bushes into the dam while he took a 'pit stop' on the side of the road on the way there/back (hence dog detected a scent). I imagine police narrowed their original search via phone signals, crossmatched with her smartwatch data, plus dashcam or similar from other vehicles in the area at the time. Unsure how they landed specifically on murder as a charge rather than kidnapping or manslaughter, because VicPol don't use cadaver dogs as far as I'm aware. Unless there is a chemical test to determine the presence of cadaverine? Perhaps there is and that is what they found in the vehicle as evidence because that'd be fairly damning if so. Again, this is all my speculation and opinion only.

Oh, I see. Thanks for that explanation; it makes perfect sense to me. Of course, once evidence of a dead body in a car is detected (there is such a test, called HPLC), it’s clearly a case of murder.

 

[Rumination1]

Commander Patton was clear and concise about that, when asked, he said, ' it was not a hit and run'..

Makes me conjure images of him sat in his car waiting sees her go past and hits the pedal …,but how are they so certain
Footage at best would be of his vehicle only

 

[nightrider17]

Did PS when he had his single vehicle accident on his bike, after the AFL grandfinal in October 2023, actually write his bike off or was it repairable??

Did the Police look at all recent clients of MM's business?? Could PS have had his bike fixed there?? MOO

Major update in search for Samantha Murphy

A smash repair business in regional Victoria with a 'strong reputation' is now a major focus in Australia's most baffling missing-person investigation.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Victoria Police Missing Persons Unit Superintendent Mark Hatt on Friday refused to answer questions about potential links with bikies and Ms Murphy's disappearance.

However, he did confirm the panel beater's books were being closely examined by detectives.

Man charged over mum's death hit with fresh charges

A man who allegedly murdered missing Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy has been hit with new charges from before...

www.singletonargus.com.au

The man accused of Samantha Murphy's murder has been charged over a crash months before the Ballarat mother's alleged killing

has been charged with careless driving, drink driving and drug driving offences after a crash on October 1 last year, which was the Sunday after the AFL grand final.
Victoria Police confirmed on Friday the 22-year-old man had been charged on summons after a single vehicle collision involving a motorcycle in Ballarat.

 

[BreakingNews]

I don't follow your logic. Eg: The media don't follow Erin Patterson's sister around. They don't follow Greg Lynn's wife around. I think Lynn has a son ... haven't seen any photos of him or where he lives/works.

I think it is very possible that a mountain is being made out of a molehill.

imo

Thanks for adding some common sense to this discussion, SouthAussie!

 

[BreakingNews]

Would we expect him to possibly speak now? With such a high profile lawyer obviously cards will be played carefully. It’s pretty clear I think that VPOL will find her eventually, will take time, but they seem to be moving on the right track.

I assume sentencing consequences will be much more severe should they find her before he tells them? I hope they find her asap so he gets the full force of the law thrown at him.

If the accused says where the body is, that would indicate that he most likely is guilty. He could hardly then plead not guilty, unless others were involved.

 

[HoneyBunOne]

Why on earth would the media follow PS' family around? They haven't allegedly committed murder.


11. Respect private grief and personal privacy.

MEAA Journalist Code of Ethics

MEAA Journalist Code of Ethics MEAA initiated Australian media self-regulation in 1944 when it created the MEAA Journalist Code of Ethics (see the FAQs tab below). Under MEAA’s rules, registered with the Fair Work Commission, MEAA’s Journalist Code of Ethics only applies to MEAA Media’s...

www.meaa.org

Have you seen the Daily Mail? They have no limits. They took pics of the girlfriend tending her horses. Riveting stuff.

One of the irritating things about life is, some things are not plainly laid out!. I would like to attempt to speak to why, on a purely amateur basis.

What we do not know... ( to start with ) Yes, it was announced on Monday, that Mr P Galbally was his barrister. The announcement was a delightful obscurity in that it did not say, how long has he been his barrister, exactly when he was appointed, ( this is crucial info, IMO ), who is paying, and the article made no reference to the finding of the phone as related to his appointment.

So, we do not know if Galbally was appointed by the court. This is entirely possible, Mr S is entitled to representation and since it is a Supreme Court trial ( murder always is) he requires a Supreme Court qualified barrister. We, the taxpayer fund this, for anyone in this situation. You, the taxpayer would foot the bill for me. .

The roster for this assignment is always secret, even the barristers don't know, but they are not allowed to refuse. The first cab off the rank rule , rules. If it is this case he got a lucky draw, because Paul is Barrister of the Year, no small label.

If this is the scenario, the mystery remains as to why it has taken so long for a barrister to be appointed, if the appointment was on Monday. If it was months back , why the secrecy? It's a reasonable question.


It is difficult to believe that the announcement, on the heels of the phone finding is not related. It may not be, but my money is on , it is.

Deeply related, This is 8 weeks out from trial and the axis has somewhat shifted, in so far as a small unravelling of the murder with potentially huge and fast unravelling looming up , that a possibly new date for the summary hearing may be coming up.

It is difficult to believe that Patrick Stephenson, a 22 yr old electrician apprentice, can cough up Paul's fees. So someone else is paying, if this is a private hire, and not an assigned hire.

I do not think even his father and mother would have the collateral for what may be a very prolonged legal stoush,.

One thing I would offer is, it would be pointless hiring Galbally if you are going to plead guilty. If you've been assigned Galbally, it would be equally pointless, so I expect a not guilty plea and let the chips fall where they may.


It will not faze the very very savvy Barristers who work for the Dept. of Public Prosecutors, though, this is meat and beer to them, just a days work, the Galbally frere know this very well, it is not an unequal contest, by any means.

Trooper, in your opinion, what would this barrister cost, from now to the end of the trial? If indeed he has been procured for private payment?
Would say a 3-4 bedroom, 1-2 bathroom home in a quiet location in Mt Clear cover it? What about if a bit of a nest egg was thrown in as well? Would that, plus the publicity, be suitable renumeration? In your opinion of course.

 

[Trooper]

Makes me conjure images of him sat in his car waiting sees her go past and hits the pedal …,but how are they so certain
Footage at best would be of his vehicle only

How are they so certain!!!! . By they , I presume you mean VICPOL. That is the question of the year. That they are certain I have absolutely no doubt at all, but how, how, how.,

Just to reiterate about what VICPOL Is unequivocally certain about ( sorry for the redundancy) .. keeping in mind that VICPOL stated these events minus a body.

That Samantha Murphy is deceased. ( the search for a living person was called off on the strength of this belief )

That she was deceased at around 8am '

That she died at Mt Clear.

That Mrs Murphy was murdered. not killed accidentally, or accidentally injured herself, . No one else, just Mrs Murphy.

That Patrick Stephensen murdered Mrs Murphy. No one else, just Patrick Stephenson.

That her body is missing.

All , as Channel 7 would say WILL BE REVEALED.

 

[pavlovsdaughter]

I don't think there is anything suspicious about what lawyer PS and/or family has chosen.
From what I've heard, Galbally has a good success rate at defending his clients. Even ones I didn't particularly like.

PS and anyone charged with anything has a right to whatever lawyer they choose and it's not against the law for him and or family to have the means to get the best. It's not a crime to be well off enough to hire the best.

Agree 100%, this is not “suspicious” to me at all, it’s what basically every defendant does. His family have plenty of collateral to offer up from their home and business, could be more money or collateral from grandparents coming in as well. And, it’s not uncommon for lawyers to discount their fees for high publicity cases. Think suggesting that the church or some other shadowy cabal is funding him is a bit of a long shot.

 

[Sor Juana]

An eerie detail in the discovery of Samantha Murphy’s phone will raise more questions for investigators as they continue to search for the mum.

“But we’re looking at possibly better geolocation data, depending on how long the phone was on before the battery died, for example, or it switched off. It could actually help build that picture of geolocation to help map where that phone moved and potentially, therefore, where Samantha moved.”

Dr Mallett said the “big question” would be whether the phone was dumped at the dam early on in the investigation or later.

“It’s very hard to say because I would expect a phone that’s been underwater or in mud for four months to be beyond retrievable,” she said.

“I would have been very surprised they could have got that phone operational, but it is. So does that indicate that it hasn’t been there for the entire four months? That’s yet to be seen. But it’s that timeline that the police will be working on and it’s certainly going to be essential in helping to develop that.”

 

[Scooby-Doo]

Commander Patton was clear and concise about that, when asked, he said, ' it was not a hit and run'..

And was "a deliberate act"

 

[Cliff Hardy]

So...
The hints
(as I understand)
seem to be the perp's association with ..
Ummm...
gangs or bikies or whatever the name...

C'mon!
Would "criminal underworld" hire such a person?
Such a failure???
Look at him!
Already in jail,
phone already found,
Police are stepping on his heels

No way!
Or...wait a minute!
Well, maybe he is a "patsy"?
A druggie meant to be sentenced instead of others?

But it smacks of conspiracy.
I don't buy it

JMO

It is quite possible he is a patsy in this. I elaborated on that yesterday but my post seems to have been removed. We shall see.