Australia Samantha Murphy, 51, last seen leaving her property to go for a run in the Canadian State Forest, Ballarat, 4 Feb 2024 *Arrest* #9

[Dotta]

Thi

Thinking along these lines… I worked with a software company a few years ago who developed software to help large machinery operators and their equipment be hired out. The software also had tracking abilities so you could see where your staff were at any time - (this helps to advise customers how far away the tradesperson is from the customers home/premises) there’s a lot of similar software on the market. Servicem8 is another example.

ServiceM8 | Smart Job Management

It’s possible his Dad used similar software in his business and possibly had this set up in the accused’s Ute. What if he was able to track his sons movements through the software, put two and two together…

In that case
the accused would be spied on to the place where he allegedly hid the body.

But no body of the victim was found.

Perhaps the accused allegedly used another vehicle to hid the victim and left the phone behind.

Or somebody else hid the body.

Or the victim's body never left the park/forest.
That is why the forest/park is still searched.

"Investigators believe her remains are somewhere within the 600-hectare forest, and continue to search through the park."

Samantha Murphy updates: Husband still looks for her two months on from disappearance

amp-9news-com-au.cdn.ampproject.org

JMO

 

[Dotta]

"Unveiling the similarities between the suspected killers of Sam Murphy and Hannah McGuire."​

It seems the same lawyer handles both cases:

"Outside court, Ms McGuire's devastated parents Glenn and Debbie and her brother stood back

as lawyer Brook Tamanika

issued a statement on their behalf to the waiting media pack."

Similarity between alleged killers of Sam Murphy and Hannah McGuire

Ballarat has been rocked by the deaths of Samantha Murphy and Hannah McGuire in the last two months. Two men have been charged with their alleged murders.

www-dailymail-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org

"A regional Victorian mayor
has appealed for people to call-out gendered violence and disrespect
following the alleged killings of three local women.

'It is absolutely heartbreaking',
Ballarat City mayor
Des Hudson said.

'There is a commonality that is running through each of those three circumstances where they lost their lives due to the behaviour and decisions of males',
he said.

Mr Hudson said the murders did not reflect his community.

'We have to make a stand.
We have to call out inappropriate comments,
and actions,
to be able to make sure it is safe for every person, regardless of gender,
of sexuality,
of ethnic or religious background'."

Gendered violence scars community after third tragedy

As a community reels after another woman is allegedly killed by a man, the city's mayor is calling for people to call out gender-based violence.

au.news.yahoo.com

 

[BreakingNews]

The listing on the Magistrate Court of Victoria website for Patrick Stephenson's upcoming Magistrates Court appearance on August 8th lists the prosecuting agency as 'Victoria Police - Highway Patrol-Ballarat'.

The case number is Q10524645 - click on hotlink below for additional info.

I didn't expect to see Highway Patrol listed against a murder. Could this appearance be for a traffic offence?

EFAS

Isn't there 2 listings. One at 7.30 and another at 8?
And this listed case is for 'mention' which means exactly that. It will be mentioned than put off to another date. I don't fully understand mentions. Probably another reason courts are so clogged up.

 

[Sor Juana]

Unveiling the similarities between the suspected killers of Sam Murphy and Hannah McGuire

The two men who are separately accused of murdering a mother-of-three and a young woman in Ballarat were both aged in their early 20s and are understood to have been raised in supportive households.

 

[BreakingNews]

<modsnip - quoted post was from unapproved source>
If the defence were so sure that there wasn't enough evidence, they would go for bail. And there is no talk of that. Not sure if he has legal representation. But police don't just charge someone with murder. They have to have some evidence. Otherwise it is human rights abuse.

 

[Dotta]

If the defence were so sure that there wasn't enough evidence, they would go for bail. And there is no talk of that. Not sure if he has legal representation. But police don't just charge someone with murder. They have to have some evidence. Otherwise it is human rights abuse.

What does it mean
"Not sure if he has legal representation" ?

Is it even possible?

Hasn't he got a Court appointed lawyer?

 

[millionbillion]

How about an hour or even half of one? Something sets him off and he’s in a fury and hanging around the tracks stewing, and spots a lone runner and let’s loose. The intent could rise when he sights her or speaks with her or whatever. It’s still intent if he intentionally attacks, even if he wasn’t quite planning on it when he arrived there 20 minutes before. Right-ish? Just hypothesising….

...But someone (not saying it's PS) has done this before, with the other younger woman attacked and left for dead (but a runner nearby saved her and suspect ran off)...also, what 'sudden impuse' allows this amount of trying to cover up, not saying where body is etc? <modsnip - off topic>

 

[Lemony]

The police mentioned a damaged car so in my opinion they didn't just say it for no reason.

Agreed. I believe that police had a strong suspicion that PS vehicle sustained some type of damage that morning.

As mentioned in previous threads the MCIU were reported to be involved in the search of the Mount Clear area. There would have been a good reason to request the expertise of this specialised unit IMO.

"While the 'targeted search', which oddly included members of Victoria Police's Major Collision Investigation Unit, turned-up nothing, it provided headline news across the country that day."

Questions police refuse to answer about Samantha Murphy mystery

Detectives leading the investigation into the disappearance of mother-of-three Samantha Murphy are holding onto clues they believe will solve the mystery.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Just adding that the DM wouldn't have a clue about what evidence (if any) was found.

 

[Cliff Hardy]

Isn't there 2 listings. One at 7.30 and another at 8?
And this listed case is for 'mention' which means exactly that. It will be mentioned than put off to another date. I don't fully understand mentions. Probably another reason courts are so clogged up.

The 'mention' is at 9.30am. That's the one where the prosecuting agency is identified as 'Victoria Police - Highway Patrol-Ballarat' Not sure about the other timeslot.

 

[ProfCluezo]

<modsnip - quoted post was not from approved source>
Are there any websleuths with sufficient knowledge of police matters and the law, who can clarify what level of evidence or suspicion exactly is required for police to charge a person with alleged murder?

 

[Cliff Hardy]

<modsnip - quoted post was not from approved source> Are there any websleuths with sufficient knowledge of police matters and the law, who can clarify what level of evidence or suspicion exactly is required for police to charge a person with alleged murder?

Not sure there would be a definition for that, as such but in broad terms :

Police make decisions on laying charges based on:

• evidence collected during the investigation
• what the law says about a criminal offence in Victoria
• keeping the community safe.

If the alleged crimes are serious offences such as rape, assault or murder, the police may get advice from the Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP) before laying charges. The police may be told that there is not enough evidence to lay charges, and that they will need to continue to collect evidence. This means the investigation may take more time.

 

[Fabre17]

Is anyone thinking of starting a thread for Hannah?

 

[BreakingNews]

What does it mean
"Not sure if he has legal representation" ?

Is it even possible?

Hasn't he got a Court appointed lawyer?

He may or may not have court appointed lawyer. Anyhow, until they get brief of evidence - 2 weeks before the August court date, there is not much point. Court appointed lawyers don't pop in for a chat to see if you need more toothpaste.

 

[BreakingNews]

Is anyone thinking of starting a thread for Hannah?

Hasn't an arrest been made? Nothing to sleuth.

 

[Rocket333]

...But someone (not saying it's PS) has done this before, with the other younger woman attacked and left for dead (but a runner nearby saved her and suspect ran off)...also, what 'sudden impuse' allows this amount of trying to cover up, not saying where body is etc? <modsnip - off topic>

Source needed for the “runner nearby saved her and suspect off”. That’s not what I’ve read or heard in relation to Sissy Austin’s assault.

<modsnip - quoted post was sipped>

 

[Dotta]

He may or may not have court appointed lawyer. Anyhow, until they get brief of evidence - 2 weeks before the August court date, there is not much point. Court appointed lawyers don't pop in for a chat to see if you need more toothpaste.

Not much point?
I thought an accused should have a legal counsel as early as possible.

But I guess he has one.

 

[Dotta]

"Map shows alleged Ballarat murders of Hannah McGuire, Samantha Murphy part of bigger gendered violence issue.​

'What the hell is going on in Ballarat?'

Many versions of this question, with varying levels of expletives, have echoed across Victoria and Australia in the past day or two.

It is a fair question — the regional Victorian city has been hit by more tragedy and trauma in the past two months than you would expect in a place with a population of around 110,000 people.
.....

Not just a Ballarat problem​

Of the 18 Australian women allegedly killed by men this year, three have died in the Ballarat region.

To put that another way, the lives of 16 per cent of all women allegedly killed by men in Australia this year are believed to have ended in the Ballarat region.

It may sound like an unlikely figure, but the reality is that data shows the rate of family violence in the Victorian town is higher than state and national averages.

In 2021, the rate of family violence common assault in Ballarat was approximately 12 per cent higher than across the state, according to crime statistics.

But these latest events are something new and even more frightening."

Map shows alleged Ballarat murders of Hannah McGuire, Samantha Murphy part of bigger gendered violence issue - ABC News

amp-abc-net-au.cdn.ampproject.org

" 'Don’t feel safe’: ​

Outrage grows at deaths of Ballarat women.​

Hundreds of people are expected to attend a snap rally in the Victorian city of Ballarat,
as outrage grows about the alleged killings of three local women.

Friday’s

'Enough is Enough' march

has been organised by Sissy Austin."

https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/state/vic/2024/04/10/ballarat-women-murders

 

[Dotta]

"Ballarat to rally against men's violence after alleged murders of Hannah McGuire, Rebecca Young, and Samantha Murphy.​

• The Ballarat community will rally against men's violence in Ballarat on Friday following the death of a third woman this year.
• Organiser Sissy Austin publicly shared her own experience of violence while running in bushland near Ballarat last year.

The rally will be held on Friday from 5:30pm commencing at Ballarat Train Station."



Djab Wurrung woman Sissy Austin is organising a rally to stand against men's violence in Ballarat.

Ballarat to rally against men's violence after alleged murders of Hannah McGuire, Rebecca Young, and Samantha Murphy - ABC News

amp-abc-net-au.cdn.ampproject.org

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Hasn't an arrest been made? Nothing to sleuth.

regarding poor Hannah:

I am far away, but what is going on in Ballarat does raise much international question regarding such aggression....
And, look how much sleuthing has been done around Samantha long after PS has been in prison.
Granted, everyone is still hoping a body can be found, so the family and community can lay her to rest....

But there are plenty of "why s'" regarding Hannah too.
I do hope you guys start a thread.......

 

[Dotta]

"Husband of allegedly murdered runner Samantha Murphy ​

shares heartfelt message for Hannah McGuire’s family.​

The devastated husband of missing runner Samantha Murphy has expressed his deep sorrow for the family of Hannah McGuire.

Ms. Murphy’s husband,
Mick Murray,
said in a statement to 9News:

'It’s very sad.
I feel sorry for Ms. McGuire’s family.’

He added that he would like to see stricter laws for those convicted of violence against women.

'More needs to be done in the country',
he said.
'The sanctions must be much more severe'."

Husband Of Allegedly Murdered Runner Samantha Murphy Shares Heartfelt Message For Hannah McGuire's Family

There has been an outpouring of grief across the country with the tight-knit Ballarat community, struggling to come to terms with the twin tragedies.

whatsnew2day.com

Sam Murphy's husband's heartfelt message to Hannah McGuire's family

There has been an outpouring of grief across the country with the tight-knit Ballarat community, struggling to come to terms with the twin tragedies.

www-dailymail-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org