Australia Samantha Murphy, 51, last seen leaving her property to go for a run in the Canadian State Forest, Ballarat, 4 Feb 2024 *Arrest* #13

[Marg944]

“Mr Stephenson is scheduled to face the Supreme Court on April 8, 2026, charged with murdering Ms Murphy.

The 23-year-old has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Ballarat man was arrested in March after Ms Murphy left her home for a jog on February 4 and was never seen again.

Her body has not been found despite several police and community searches.

On Tuesday, the court was told the trial would take place in Ballarat.

The court heard the trial was expected to last about six weeks.”

Trial date set for Patrick Stephenson, accused of killing Samantha Murphy

A trial date and location have been confirmed for the man charged with the alleged murder of Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy.

www.abc.net.au

 

[BreakingNews]

“Mr Stephenson is scheduled to face the Supreme Court on April 8, 2026, charged with murdering Ms Murphy.

The 23-year-old has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Ballarat man was arrested in March after Ms Murphy left her home for a jog on February 4 and was never seen again.

Her body has not been found despite several police and community searches.

On Tuesday, the court was told the trial would take place in Ballarat.

The court heard the trial was expected to last about six weeks.”

Trial date set for Patrick Stephenson, accused of killing Samantha Murphy

A trial date and location have been confirmed for the man charged with the alleged murder of Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy.

www.abc.net.au

I wonder what happened to the trial being fast tracked. Or is this what is called fast tracking?
I just want Samantha brought home and justice to be done.

 

[Marg944]

Trial start date is 8 April 2026 in Ballarat.

Pre-trial arguments start in November. The court heard the trial was expected to last about six weeks.

Trial date set for Patrick Stephenson, accused of killing Samantha Murphy

A trial date and location have been confirmed for the man charged with the alleged murder of Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy.

www.abc.net.au

Didn’t mean to double up with the abc news post, but you originally had posted the link for the Courier news and it was paywalled - so I posted the abc link which wasn’t paywalled. Oh well.

 

[Porky1]

I wonder what happened to the trial being fast tracked. Or is this what is called fast tracking?
I just want Samantha brought home and justice to be done.

Yes, I was just thinking the same. Wasn’t November suggested?

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1930030795160260639

"A trial date has been set for the man accused of murdering Samantha Murphy.

Patrick Orren Stephenson, 23,
is set to face a Supreme Court trial on April 8, 2026.

The trial is expected to last about six weeks
and will be held in Ballarat, Victoria.

Pre-trial arguments for the prosecution and defence
are likely to begin as early as November 2025.

Stephenson has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder."

 

[Whatson]

6 weeks is a long trial indeed. Perhaps the thought of that coupled with sitting in a cell the next 10 months will bring forward an unexpected development. Perhaps... perhaps not

 

[Whatson]

I wonder what happened to the trial being fast tracked. Or is this what is called fast tracking?
I just want Samantha brought home and justice to be done.

Australia is super slow for trials. This date comes as no great surprise although I don't think they managed to get it "fast tracked" at all

 

[touch]

"A trial date has been set for the man accused of murdering Samantha Murphy.

Patrick Orren Stephenson, 23,
is set to face a Supreme Court trial on April 8, 2026.

The trial is expected to last about six weeks
and will be held in Ballarat, Victoria.

Pre-trial arguments for the prosecution and defence
are likely to begin as early as November 2025.

Stephenson has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder."

Is the "major development" that a trial date has been set? Or is there something else in the article?

 

[PunishThenForgive]

Is the "major development" that a trial date has been set? Or is there something else in the article?

That’s it.