Australia Samantha Murphy, 51, last seen leaving her property to go for a run in the Canadian State Forest, Ballarat, 4 Feb 2024 *Arrest* #12

[vls12345]

The event that has disturbed me , probably disproportionately , is that his whole family moved right out of the state and far away the day he was arrested. This is Dad, with a thriving electricians business, with employees , Mum with a long career as a schoolteacher, one daughter in a fast track career in a Real Estate agence, I forget what the other one did, but it was sigificant.. up they went. This is very very unusual , they have every right to do it, every reason to, from my point of view, but not many families of arrestees do that. I cannot think of any , offhand,

This is not a criticism, but something drove them to make such an upheaval in their lives at that time, apart from the arrest .. that whatever VICPOL had, convinced them.

I have followed this case sporadically and just recently checked in again and am seeing this. Wow. That is really disturbing, imo.

Was this just recently revealed? How far away did they move? Have they attended for court appearances (like when he entered a plea)? Is there an article about this or a link somewhere in this thread (that I can look for)? TIA.

 

[Marg944]

Turns out P O S had a bushy beard when he was arrested back in early March, 2024.


8 March 2024

“Dressed in a bright orange worker's vest and sporting a bushy beard when he appeared in court on Thursday, Stephenson's identity had already been splashed across news websites and television broadcasts for hours.”

Alleged Samantha Murphy killer's close female friend breaks cover

A woman believed to a close friend of Patrick Orren Stephenson's was seen training and tending to a horse at the rear of a Scotsburn property not far from where he was arrested.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Trooper]

I have followed this case sporadically and just recently checked in again and am seeing this. Wow. That is really disturbing, imo.

Was this just recently revealed? How far away did they move? Have they attended for court appearances (like when he entered a plea)? Is there an article about this or a link somewhere in this thread (that I can look for)? TIA.

No.. it was reported when he was arrested... . How far away did they move? far, far away, is how it was put.. I don't know if they have attended any court appearances, but that would signify nothing as his appearances have been by zoom. ,.. I mean, they would see him, but he would not see them, and perhaps it would be too confronting, press wise, to rock up to Ballarat court to see a zoom call hearing. It was not reported that they did attend , even so. His sisters did attend this latest one.

If you go back thruu the threads to where the arrest was made, then a few days further on from that will get you where you want to be on this matter. Meanwhile, I will search for links on it. Anyone else is invited to join in that search!!

It disturbed me because I don't think Australia is a vigilante nation. At least, not yet, in these circumstances. If that was the reason they left Ballarat. Because it was too uncomfortable for them.. most people have tremendous sympathy for them.. It could have been entirely fortuitous, also, I suppose, an unfortunate coincidence.

However.... I do think VICPOL has told Mick Murphy the nuts and bolts of their case, because he has ,to a certain extent , giving up that hopeless endless searching for Samantha.. and I think, I don't know, it is theory so far, that VICPOL explained their case to Stephensons family also, which may have been a factor.

 

[vls12345]

No.. it was reported when he was arrested... . How far away did they move? far, far away, is how it was put.. I don't know if they have attended any court appearances, but that would signify nothing as his appearances have been by zoom. ,.. I mean, they would see him, but he would not see them, and perhaps it would be too confronting, press wise, to rock up to Ballarat court to see a zoom call hearing. It was not reported that they did attend , even so. His sisters did attend this latest one.

If you go back thruu the threads to where the arrest was made, then a few days further on from that will get you where you want to be on this matter. Meanwhile, I will search for links on it. Anyone else is invited to join in that search!!

It disturbed me because I don't think Australia is a vigilante nation. At least, not yet, in these circumstances. If that was the reason they left Ballarat. Because it was too uncomfortable for them.. most people have tremendous sympathy for them.. It could have been entirely fortuitous, also, I suppose, an unfortunate coincidence.

However.... I do think VICPOL has told Mick Murphy the nuts and bolts of their case, because he has ,to a certain extent , giving up that hopeless endless searching for Samantha.. and I think, I don't know, it is theory so far, that VICPOL explained their case to Stephensons family also, which may have been a factor.

Thank you, @Trooper.

I have been looking around and found this DM article from March 8.

Tradie accused of killing Samantha Murphy partied before she vanished

The man accused of murdering mother-of-three Samantha Murphy was reportedly seen out partying in Ballarat the night before she disappeared.

www.dailymail.co.uk

The family moved to Ballarat in 2002 to be close to Ms Stephenson's family, and set up an electronics company, Elite Voice and Data, which was run out of their home according to company files.

It is understood the family has now left the area after a media horde descended upon their home on Thursday afternoon.

To my mind, that sounds like the family temporarily left (days, weeks?) until some of the media interest died down. MOO.

Have there been further, more detailed reports about them permanently moving away?

 

[Macha]

I always thought the seized ute was the alleged murderers. Why do you think it is his father’s?

It's his father's business' Ute. Jmo

 

[Trooper]

Thank you, @Trooper.

I have been looking around and found this DM article from March 8.

Tradie accused of killing Samantha Murphy partied before she vanished

The man accused of murdering mother-of-three Samantha Murphy was reportedly seen out partying in Ballarat the night before she disappeared.

www.dailymail.co.uk

To my mind, that sounds like the family temporarily left (days, weeks?) until some of the media interest died down. MOO.

Have there been further, more detailed reports about them permanently moving away?

Let's put it this way, there have been no reports of them returning to their Ballarat home.

 

[HoneyBunOne]

I have followed this case sporadically and just recently checked in again and am seeing this. Wow. That is really disturbing, imo.

Was this just recently revealed? How far away did they move? Have they attended for court appearances (like when he entered a plea)? Is there an article about this or a link somewhere in this thread (that I can look for)? TIA.

No, I believe it was reported right around the time of his arrest. It seems they up and left almost before news broke that he had been arrested, and from memory he was interviewed for roughly 30 hours before the arrest was made. (It has been reported he was uncooperative, so I guess a lot of police talking, suggesting, questioning, maybe a bit of good cop/bad cop etc.) It's believed they moved states, to NSW. I don't think any family members were there for court appearances, but I'm not sure. I do know that his mother and 1 sister logged on to this last appearance, but didn't appear in person. If you search this site, and news articles, that were around the first week in March you may get answers.

Turns out P O S had a bushy beard when he was arrested back in early March, 2024.


8 March 2024

“Dressed in a bright orange worker's vest and sporting a bushy beard when he appeared in court on Thursday, Stephenson's identity had already been splashed across news websites and television broadcasts for hours.”

Alleged Samantha Murphy killer's close female friend breaks cover

A woman believed to a close friend of Patrick Orren Stephenson's was seen training and tending to a horse at the rear of a Scotsburn property not far from where he was arrested.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Nice find Marg.

 

[vls12345]

Thank you @Trooper and @HoneyBunOne.

That really does seem so odd that his family would leave like that.

Why would they do that? Did they tip him to LE and perhaps they fear him being released/bonded? Or fear retribution from his "friends" or associates? Are they too upset about the upheaval/losing face in their community? Are they continually being harassed by media, internet sleuths, TikTokkers, etc.? It just seems like such odd action to take. Imo.

 

[Trooper]

Thank you @Trooper and @HoneyBunOne.

That really does seem so odd that his family would leave like that.

Why would they do that? Did they tip him to LE and perhaps they fear him being released/bonded? Or fear retribution from his "friends" or associates? Are they too upset about the upheaval/losing face in their community? Are they continually being harassed by media, internet sleuths, TikTokkers, etc.? It just seems like such odd action to take. Imo.

Probably lots of theories as to why..... As far as I know, no one is hunting them down, or publishing stuff about them. It is possible they did the tip off, something instigated that action, don't know what, may not be.. a worth while theory though.

One very good reason the press is not on their tail, is , the press probably have had a D notice (for DESIST) put on by the Court, and VICPOL to not interview, or engage in conversation, because they are witnesses. VICPOL has that power to do that. Which is one way of predicting who is most likely to be a witness, the press has not interviewed them !..

 

[Rocket333]

8 March, 2024

“It is understood the family has now left the area after a media horde descended upon their home on Thursday afternoon.”

Also of interest,

“On Thursday, the court heard Stephenson, a tradesman, did not suffer from any drug problems or mental health conditions.

However, his lawyer David Tamanika warned his client was at risk of self harm while behind bars.“

and….

“Mr Tamanika said his client had hoped to keep his father's name out of the press.”

Cops make major move in Sam Murphy murder investigation

The man charged with the murder of Ballarat mother of three Samantha Murphy is the son of a former AFL footballer.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[suspicious]

Probably lots of theories as to why..... As far as I know, no one is hunting them down, or publishing stuff about them. It is possible they did the tip off, something instigated that action, don't know what, may not be.. a worth while theory though.

One very good reason the press is not on their tail, is , the press probably have had a D notice (for DESIST) put on by the Court, and VICPOL to not interview, or engage in conversation, because they are witnesses. VICPOL has that power to do that. Which is one way of predicting who is most likely to be a witness, the press has not interviewed them !..

are you allowed to post your theory on why they left Trooper?

 

[Trooper]

are you allowed to post your theory on why they left Trooper?

Probably not, S.

Although, I want it made clear, I do not criticize their decision to do so. Not at all. I do think they will be witnesses , both mum and dad, which is why no press has been allowed within cooee of them. They are Supreme Court witnesses, and once VICPOL says no, it means no.

Part of the theory I hold is his parents were probably tremendously shocked, at the point to which their child had got himself down to. Obviously, I think they knew about his traffic charges that involved heavy drug use, maybe he had to rely on them to engage David Tamanika as his solicitor for some of those charges, and kick in some money for the barrister Tamanika referred Stephenson onto, once the severity of the combined charges was made clear.. So , as parents do, they at some point understood things were going a bit downhill, fast to where, no one knew. ..

Perhaps ultimatums were given, ' pull yourself up, clean up your act'. this kind of thing, and when it fell down on them that he had in no way pulled himself up. ..... they retreated.. ...

All theory.

 

[Rocket333]

I do think they will be witnesses , both mum and dad, which is why no press has been allowed within cooee of them. They are Supreme Court witnesses, and once VICPOL says no, it means no.
All theory.

I agree with your witnesses theory. I think dad is the only one the accused possibly respects.

PS became an electrician like dad, reportedly had aspirations to emulate dad’s footy career, tried to keep dad’s identity suppressed when arrested, and there’s no mention of dad at the two court mentions (just mum and a sister).

Seems the accused was concerned for his family, at least his dad anyway. I think this was more than dad being a known ex afl player. I think it speaks to their relationship.

“Mr Tamanika said his client's application for a gag order hoped to keep his father's name out of the press.
'The current media storm has now become inclusive of family of the accused and the defence intention to assist has only become far more destructive.”

Cops make major move in Sam Murphy murder investigation

The man charged with the murder of Ballarat mother of three Samantha Murphy is the son of a former AFL footballer.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Deleted member 296739]

Question- is a Ute more like a truck with an open bed in the back or an SUV and is all enclosed?

 

[CredibleSauce]

Question- is a Ute more like a truck with an open bed in the back or an SUV and is all enclosed?

A ute is what you’d consider a pickup truck

 

[Deleted member 296739]

A ute is what you’d consider a pickup truck

Thank you-

 

[suspicious]

What

Probably not, S.

Although, I want it made clear, I do not criticize their decision to do so. Not at all. I do think they will be witnesses , both mum and dad, which is why no press has been allowed within cooee of them. They are Supreme Court witnesses, and once VICPOL says no, it means no.

Part of the theory I hold is his parents were probably tremendously shocked, at the point to which their child had got himself down to. Obviously, I think they knew about his traffic charges that involved heavy drug use, maybe he had to rely on them to engage David Tamanika as his solicitor for some of those charges, and kick in some money for the barrister Tamanika referred Stephenson onto, once the severity of the combined charges was made clear.. So , as parents do, they at some point understood things were going a bit downhill, fast to where, no one knew. ..

Perhaps ultimatums were given, ' pull yourself up, clean up your act'. this kind of thing, and when it fell down on them that he had in no way pulled himself up. ..... they retreated.. ...

All theory.

What a very sad situation. Two families ruined forever and possibly impacted for several future generations.

Side note, what would the incarceration range be if he were found to be guilty?
Imo

 

[Trooper]

What

What a very sad situation. Two families ruined forever and possibly impacted for several future generations.

Side note, what would the incarceration range be if he were found to be guilty?
Imo

The maximum for murder , in Victoria, is life. ( AU does not have the death penalty, last person hanged was in 1964, I think ) Any lessening of that is predicated on mitigating factors.. his mental health, his age and capacity to grasp the seriousness, his previous record, if any, the level of maliciousness in the murder, the depravity of it, the psychoticness of it, and so on.. you get my drift. Once he is convicted, his sole effort legally would be on how many years must he serve before he can apply for parole. , He is 23.. how much of a danger would he be?.. probably, around , I regret to inform, about 30 years,before parole stuff starts to kick in.

But in Victoria, a murderer is always, always on parole, it is a life sentence, .

 

[Trooper]

For those to whom no amount of detail is ever enough, this site below gives a lot of information about sentences that have already been passed down on charged, accused, and consequently, convicted people , in Victoria. Also, it has what the judge gave as his reasoning behind the sentence, the components of the crime presented that attracted the elements of the sentence..,

Recent sentences

Summarising sentences from the Trial Division of the Supreme Court of Victoria

www.supremecourt.vic.gov.au

 

[Deleted member 296739]

For those to whom no amount of detail is ever enough, this site below gives a lot of information about sentences that have already been passed down on charged, accused, and consequently, convicted people , in Victoria. Also, it has what the judge gave as his reasoning behind the sentence, the components of the crime presented that attracted the elements of the sentence..,

Recent sentences

Summarising sentences from the Trial Division of the Supreme Court of Victoria

www.supremecourt.vic.gov.au

Thanks!