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.

 

[browneyes]

Anyone know if searches are still on-going for Samantha’s remains?
Her poor family.

 

[Marg944]

Anyone know if searches are still on-going for Samantha’s remains?
Her poor family.

Published: 02 Feb 2025

‘There is nothing we want more than to return Samantha to her family.’

“Her body is yet to be found, despite extensive searches by police and members of the public, with a particular focus on the Canadian State Forest, Enfield State Park and Buninyong Bushland Reserve.

“Since Samantha’s disappearance, police have worked tirelessly to locate her,” Dunstan said.

“This year we will continue to conduct searches in the Ballarat area, including searches in areas highlighted by intelligence derived from a number of sources.


The investigation remains ongoing and is focused on locating Murphy’s body, with further searches expected to take place in coming months.”

A year on, police provide an update on the search for Samantha Murphy

‘There is nothing we want more than to return Samantha to her family.’

7news.com.au

 

[browneyes]

Published: 02 Feb 2025

‘There is nothing we want more than to return Samantha to her family.’

“Her body is yet to be found, despite extensive searches by police and members of the public, with a particular focus on the Canadian State Forest, Enfield State Park and Buninyong Bushland Reserve.

“Since Samantha’s disappearance, police have worked tirelessly to locate her,” Dunstan said.

“This year we will continue to conduct searches in the Ballarat area, including searches in areas highlighted by intelligence derived from a number of sources.


The investigation remains ongoing and is focused on locating Murphy’s body, with further searches expected to take place in coming months.”

A year on, police provide an update on the search for Samantha Murphy

‘There is nothing we want more than to return Samantha to her family.’

7news.com.au

Thank you so much! I think of Samantha and her family often.

 

[Kemug]

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

Not so long - Erin Patterson's trial was also scheduled to last 6 weeks, and in the end it went for what? 9? weeks. And not a moment too short, IMO

 

[HoneyBunOne]

What point in time would jurors be called upon to potentially decide this case, now that we have a timeframe for it to start? A little part of me wants to be called up, but a large part of me doesn't know if I could handle it all.

 

[Marg944]

What point in time would jurors be called upon to potentially decide this case, now that we have a timeframe for it to start? A little part of me wants to be called up, but a large part of me doesn't know if I could handle it all.

As an example, the jury for Erin Patterson’s trial was beginning to be selected in February 2025, for matters relating to the trial in late April. So only a few months.



“It was February 2025 when 15,000 people from within the Latrobe Valley District in southeastern Victoria were sent letters notifying them they had been selected for jury service to cover several court matters starting in late April and early August.

That pool was trimmed by almost half after each person answered an online questionnaire judging suitability and availability, with 7000 excused, deferred, deemed ineligible or disqualified.”

From 15,000 to 12: How the jury who convicted Erin Patterson was chosen

The mother-of-two was this week found guilty of deliberately murdering three people by using a beef wellington laced with death cap mushrooms.

7news.com.au

 

[HoneyBunOne]

As an example, the jury for Erin Patterson’s trial was beginning to be selected in February 2025, for matters relating to the trial in late April. So only a few months.



“It was February 2025 when 15,000 people from within the Latrobe Valley District in southeastern Victoria were sent letters notifying them they had been selected for jury service to cover several court matters starting in late April and early August.

That pool was trimmed by almost half after each person answered an online questionnaire judging suitability and availability, with 7000 excused, deferred, deemed ineligible or disqualified.”

From 15,000 to 12: How the jury who convicted Erin Patterson was chosen

The mother-of-two was this week found guilty of deliberately murdering three people by using a beef wellington laced with death cap mushrooms.

7news.com.au

Thanks, I'll keep my eye on the letter box early next year.

 

[Dotta]

What point in time would jurors be called upon to potentially decide this case, now that we have a timeframe for it to start? A little part of me wants to be called up, but a large part of me doesn't know if I could handle it all.

I'm not sure you would qualify
I mean
possible bias and being engaged in the case as WS poster, no???

But then,
I'm not an expert in Juries.
In my country we only have bench trials

JMhumbleO

 

[HoneyBunOne]

I'm not sure you would qualify
I mean
possible bias and being engaged in the case as WS poster, no???

But then,
I'm not an expert in Juries.
In my country we only have bench trials

JMhumbleO

Sorry, I didn't have my sarcasm font on.

I was really thinking/typing out loud. I could get called up as I am in the area, but I'm sure I'd be dismissed or excused based on my activity here. I'm also sure My Stephenson would call "challenge" anyway if I got that far, based on the fact I am a similar age to Samantha, we could be seen to have somewhat similar looks, I'm also a loving, involved mother and family woman etc. You might infer that I could empathise with her and see myself in her shoes. Not her running shoes. That is one area where we don't share similarities!

I was really just questioning my thoughts. I'm clearly a true crime nut, but when it's in your face, all the gory, real life details, I'm not so sure I'd be up for it. I'd be curious as all get out to be involved, but the weight of deciding someone's future would be maybe more than I could handle.

 

[Rocket333]

What point in time would jurors be called upon to potentially decide this case, now that we have a timeframe for it to start? A little part of me wants to be called up, but a large part of me doesn't know if I could handle it all.

I’d love to be on this one. I need closure and character development.

 

[BreakingNews]

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

Imagine if it went to District court (name in Qld courts) first for a Judge to say if there was enough to go to trial. That would have added another year or so.