I was interested in the action taken by the DPP ( dept of public prosecution ) and the OPP ( office of the public prosecutor ) in the matter of the murder of Emma Bates, back in April 26th. At Cobram, Vic.
The same DPP and OPP that charged Stephenson with the murder of Samantha Murphy charged John Torney with, not murder, but assault, intentionally causing injury, recklessly causing injury, common law assault, aggravated assault of a female and unlawful assault.
But not murder. Emma died, as did Samantha, but one was charged with murder, and one with assault, etc. So it seems that the DPP/OPP/VICPOL could not find any evidence of intent in the matter of Ms Bates, but apparently , have found evidence of intent, by Mr Stephenson, in the matter of Mrs. Murphy.
This goes back to the charging, trial and conviction of James Gargasoulas back in 2016, over the hit and run of pedestrians in one of Melbourne's main streets. What James had done was tell his brother what he was going to do ( after stabbing the brother, nearly fatally) and then, to compound it, he was on the phone to a constable tracking him in a car , trying to stop him, telling him what he intended to do. Which is why he was charged with, not hit and run, but with murder. He formed a view, then he spoke about the view and then he performed the action he stated he was going to do. Premeditation and intent writ large, in florescent letters.
So it would seem to me that VICPOL hold some sort of similar evidence, a measure of intent, and premeditation on Mr Stephenson.