National

Man charged over mum's death hit with fresh charges

By AAP Newswire

May 3, 2024

The man accused of Samantha Murphy's murder has been charged over a crash months before the Ballarat mother's alleged killing.Â

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

Patrick Orren Stephenson has been charged with careless driving, drink driving and drug driving offences after a crash on October 1 last year, which was the Sunday after the AFL grand final.

Victoria Police confirmed on Friday the 22-year-old man had been charged on summons after a single vehicle collision involving a motorcycle in Ballarat.

Stephenson was in March arrested and charged over the disappearance of Ms Murphy, who left home to go for a run on February 4 and hasn't been seen since.

He is accused of killing the mother-of-three at Mount Clear in Ballarat on the day that she went missing.

No trace of the 51-year-old woman has ever been found, despite weeks of widespread searches from police and members of the public.

Ms Murphy has been described as a physically and mentally strong woman who was devoted to her three children.

Stephenson will face Ballarat Magistrates Court on August 8 over the fresh offences and the murder charge.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press