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He will be asked to plea tomorrow. The fact he is waiting to see what they have means he is probably guilty. No one would plead guilty for something they did not do unless they were insane.
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
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He will be asked nothing tomorrow about the murder of Mrs Murphy. The fact that he is 'waiting' means nothing, in regard to this matter. Tomorrow's appearance by the accused is about another matter altogether. Tomorrow is the 14th. His court appointment tomorrow is in reference to a matter previous to the murder of Mrs Murphy.
On the 15th, the matter of the murder of Mrs Murphy will be addressed, and he will be asked various questions, one of which is if he intends to make a plea. Another one may be a request for an extension of time. .. or some medical intervention, .. it could be anything. He may, or he may not., make a plea. At some point, the judge will do that job for him. In that event, it will be a not guilty plea.
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Sorry, yes the 15th. Keen for this to roll out and on and got ahead of myself!
I am pretty sure that the murder case is for mention tomorrow, 14th November 2024..
“The court was told the case against Mr Stephenson contained an “extensive” amount of CCTV footage that both the prosecution and defence were still working through.
Members of Mr Stephenson’s family watched the brief hearing remotely through an audiovisual link as the case was adjourned until November 14, when Mr Stratmann said he expected any issues “to be ventilated”.
“The court was told the case against Mr Stephenson contained an “extensive” amount of CCTV footage that both the prosecution and defence were still working through.
Members of Mr Stephenson’s family watched the brief hearing remotely through an audiovisual link as the case was adjourned until November 14, when Mr Stratmann said he expected any issues “to be ventilated”.
I think that was back in AUgust, Marg.. since then, the order of court appearances has changed a bit SINCE the first mention when so much evidence was presented that the defence asked for an extension and a change in dates... anyways, we'll see tomorrow just what is going on, either case he is involved in in rivetting to me, and I presume, to you, because he was misbehaving all over the place leading up to this murder.
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There are some other matters, besides the traffic one, and If it's the same person, but most likely after Samantha's proceedings to be brought up
You’re right Marg - it’s back on Thursday 14th. My week is going too fast and I don’t know what day it is. Sorry for any confusion.
“Mr Stephenson will remain in custody until the matter returns to court on November 14.”
Court hearings for man accused of murdering Samantha Murphy delayed due to 'huge' evidence brief
An "unprecedented" amount of evidence is causing delays in court for the matter of Patrick Orren Stephenson, accused of murdering Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy.
www.abc.net.au
Samantha Murphy’s alleged killer charged with drink and drug driving offences
Patrick Stephenson charged over crash that occurred months before Ballarat mother’s alleged murder
I think todays court stuff is about the traffic business, and it's most unlikely that he will make a personal appearance, it's unlikely the court would allow the travel up from Melbourne Remand centre, with all the security stuff involved, it most likely will be a ZOOM appearance, and probably not till after lunch.. on the other hand, it may be set aside because of the court appearance rostered for tomorrow, which, again, I think will be via ZOOM..
.... tomorrow is not the trial, it s a committal, and ZOOM would be the most efficient, but, courts do things their way, it could be they drag him up the 115 klms on the Great Western Freeway, sirens blazing all the way, I just don't think they will, is all.
.... tomorrow is not the trial, it s a committal, and ZOOM would be the most efficient, but, courts do things their way, it could be they drag him up the 115 klms on the Great Western Freeway, sirens blazing all the way, I just don't think they will, is all.
well well well... '
www.theguardian.com
so he has made a plea , they've moved him up, and moved Lachlan Young down the list,
''''The Victorian man accused of killing missing Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy has pleaded not guilty to murder, with his case being fast-tracked to the state’s supreme court.
Patrick Stephenson, 23, appeared in the Ballarat magistrates court via video link, charged with the murder of Murphy. She was last seen more than nine months ago when she left her Ballarat East home to go for a run.
Stephenson’s lawyer, Michael Allen, told the court his client had opted to waive committal proceedings and have his case fast-tracked to the Victorian supreme court.''''
Samantha Murphy: Ballarat murder trial fast-tracked after Patrick Stephenson pleads not guilty
Court hears Stephenson denies murdering Ballarat woman after her family last saw her leaving to go on a run
so he has made a plea , they've moved him up, and moved Lachlan Young down the list,
''''The Victorian man accused of killing missing Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy has pleaded not guilty to murder, with his case being fast-tracked to the state’s supreme court.
Patrick Stephenson, 23, appeared in the Ballarat magistrates court via video link, charged with the murder of Murphy. She was last seen more than nine months ago when she left her Ballarat East home to go for a run.
Stephenson’s lawyer, Michael Allen, told the court his client had opted to waive committal proceedings and have his case fast-tracked to the Victorian supreme court.''''
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He has skipped the committal and gone straight to trial, pleading not guilty, so they've fast tracked him. ..
''''He has elected to stand trial,” he said.
Murphy, 51, was last seen on 4 February, when she left her Ballarat East home to go for a run. She was captured on CCTV in the driveway of her family’s home, dressed in a maroon singlet and black running pants.
Police charged Stephenson in March.
Investigators allege Stephenson murdered Murphy in the Mount Clear area, about 7km from her home, on the day she disappeared.
Murphy’s family reported her missing when she did not return home from the run.
Magistrate Mark Stratmann committed Stephenson to stand trial in the state’s supreme court.'
( no hint as yet as to what his defence is... )
''''He has elected to stand trial,” he said.
Murphy, 51, was last seen on 4 February, when she left her Ballarat East home to go for a run. She was captured on CCTV in the driveway of her family’s home, dressed in a maroon singlet and black running pants.
Police charged Stephenson in March.
Investigators allege Stephenson murdered Murphy in the Mount Clear area, about 7km from her home, on the day she disappeared.
Murphy’s family reported her missing when she did not return home from the run.
Magistrate Mark Stratmann committed Stephenson to stand trial in the state’s supreme court.'
( no hint as yet as to what his defence is... )
Often , once a person is represented by Legal Aid, the committal phase is skipped, it is mainly a matter of cost. and since Legal Aid have to account for every cent to Parliament, there has to be a very very strong case for Legal Aid to pursue the matter all thru the committal stage. So this is not unusual, what is unusual is the fast tracking element, to a certain extent, but there have already been delays.
Obviously, his defence has gone over all the evidence ( the preponderance of it, the extensiveness , the colossal heft of it, apparently, unprecedented amounts of it , and decided to forge ahead. A not guilty plea means he has knocked himself out already of any discount on his parole time limit should he be found guilty. )
Obviously, his defence has gone over all the evidence ( the preponderance of it, the extensiveness , the colossal heft of it, apparently, unprecedented amounts of it , and decided to forge ahead. A not guilty plea means he has knocked himself out already of any discount on his parole time limit should he be found guilty. )
Interestingly, he appears to have new lawyers.. Gorman Chambers now seems to be his legal rep, Micheal Allen is their lead chap there, a good firm, but not with the cache of Galbally Brothers.. there must be a story there, too.
edited later.. Micheal Allen used to be a member of Galbally Chambers, but moved on over to Gormans some time ago....
edited later.. Micheal Allen used to be a member of Galbally Chambers, but moved on over to Gormans some time ago....
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Stephenson is due to appear in that court on 27 November for a directions hearing.
This is his next appearance..
(direction hearing, ... = jurisdictional housekeeping,
The court may make a variety of orders during the first or subsequent court mentions or directions hearing. This might include setting a timetable and deadlines for:
This is his next appearance..
(direction hearing, ... = jurisdictional housekeeping,
The court may make a variety of orders during the first or subsequent court mentions or directions hearing. This might include setting a timetable and deadlines for:
- when each party must file and serve additional pleadings or written submissions;
- when the parties must exchange affidavit evidence or witness statements;
- filing certain documents and when you must supply them to other parties in the proceedings; and
- filing expert reports.)
Somewhere in this story a whole lot of people have faded back into the distance, the barrister from Werribee , Paul Galbally, one can only guess that his original solicitor , David Tamanika is still attached.. ( I have a soft spot for barristers and solicitors, I like to keep track of whom is representing who ) so at a guess , I am floating the idea that there has been some sort of conflict arising between Stephenson and Galbally Chambers.. conflict about the plea, conflict about the method of defence, something. .. .....
I'm wondering if the traffic stuff has been dropped altogether , and sometimes this happens when the accused has a huge murder charge, they don't bother with the trifling stuff, in a manner of speaking, but in this case, I think that traffic business will go ahead, and I am keeping my eye out for some mention of it tomorrow, 15th. ...
( spare a thought for Ballarat Court, 4 Coroners inquests to plow thru as well as 2 huge murder trials ) ..
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