Samantha Murphy Ballarat * Patrick Orren Stephenson Charged With Murder

[Kurve]

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The Murder of Rebecca Young - Ballarat

The Murder of Hannah McGuire - Ballarat * Lachie Young

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Lachie Young

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charged



Allegedly

 

[Dogs_R_Us]

But then hypothetically can't police charge someone with something which then gets thrown out, but the defendant has already been in remand between time of arrest and when case gets thrown out. Not really fair on defendant is it?

No, they don’t just pluck someone off the street and try to build a case against them. You might have missed that the police have been investigating him for two weeks. They charged him when they had enough evidence.

 

[kaiserchief13]

No, they don’t just pluck someone off the street and try to build a case against them. You might have missed that the police have been investigating him for two weeks. They charged him when they had enough evidence.

I'm not saying for this case specifically, I'm saying in general. Who is holding the police accountable that stops them from charging people without sufficient evidence? If nobody, isn't that an issue with the Australian constitution?

 

[BILC]

I think with the police saying "this was a deliberate act" and "this was not a hit and run" we can probably read between the lines and conclude that she wasn't hit by a car and then murdered? Seems like they are trying to allude to the fact that the accused has set out with an intention to murder her?

 

[Feerits Elf]

Countless older woman have been targetted and have died in the past decade that I can think of immediately.
95 year old attacked and r*ped in a nursing home, never recovered, died shortly after.......NSW, SA, VIC, QLD have all had similar stories.

More than their younger counterparts? That's the relevant question.

All this counting victims of violence as statistics....arguing about statistics....arguing about theoretical target of crime through profiling.
Each one of these numbers, stats, profilings is a human that suffered.

You're right. I guess the criminologists should just pack it in. Jerks.

 

[geoffjennings79]

It makes me feel ill, with what seems like further rampant speculation, false narratives, gleefully being parsed willy nilly without consideration, when there are people, families, communities hurting out there and Samantha Murphy is still out there somewhere.

I sincerely hope that people hold it in their minds when they launch into yet another diatribe.
She has not been found and that should be the main focus right now, as was the direction by Patten clearly stated no less than three times in the press conference.

This is why I won't be posting any more in this thread. The last 10-15 pages has descended to unsubstantiated speculation and rumour, and bickering over minor differences, which IMO, add nothing of value to the discussion.

I hope for Samantha Murphy's family and friends, and the family and friends of the accused who have to continue to live in the same community, that this matter is resolved, Samantha is returned to her family, and the people across the board affected by this can begin a journey of healing (if at all possible).

Good luck to you all.

 

[Dogs_R_Us]

I'm not saying for this case specifically, I'm saying in general. Who is holding the police accountable that stops them from charging people without sufficient evidence? If nobody, isn't that an issue with the Australian constitution?

The DPP decides if cases have a chance of securing a conviction. They look at all the evidence. Plenty of cases wouldn’t make it to court on that basis. The law works to prevent frivolous or vexatious prosecutions.

 

[ElliottsMaggies]

I'm not saying for this case specifically, I'm saying in general. Who is holding the police accountable that stops them from charging people without sufficient evidence? If nobody, isn't that an issue with the Australian constitution?

Laying charges

You have a right to be kept informed.

www.victimsofcrime.vic.gov.au

 

[Feerits Elf]

I think with the police saying "this was a deliberate act" and "this was not a hit and run" we can probably read between the lines and conclude that she wasn't hit by a car and then murdered? Seems like they are trying to allude to the fact that the accused has set out with an intention to murder her?

No, we can't conclude that at all.

No, I don't think they are trying to allude to that.

 

[nut]

I'm not saying for this case specifically, I'm saying in general. Who is holding the police accountable that stops them from charging people without sufficient evidence? If nobody, isn't that an issue with the Australian constitution?

If police have evidence (the watch) that she was still alive when she was moving in his car,
then it’s upto the defence to prove she was injured causing death prior to her being in his car..

 

[kaiserchief13]

The DPP knows if cases have a chance of securing a conviction. They look at all the evidence. Plenty of cases wouldn’t make it to court on that basis. The law works to prevent frivolous or vexatious prosecutions.

Laying charges

You have a right to be kept informed.

www.victimsofcrime.vic.gov.au

Yes but say the police just want to charge someone to close an investigation and get the media attention off them, what if there is corruption from both police and DPP/OPP in that they agree to charge someone just for this reason? What is stopping them from doing this?

 

[Barrybran]

I think with the police saying "this was a deliberate act" and "this was not a hit and run" we can probably read between the lines and conclude that she wasn't hit by a car and then murdered? Seems like they are trying to allude to the fact that the accused has set out with an intention to murder her?

Those statements are mutually exclusive. If he has indeed hit her and then killed her it is not a hit and run because he wouldn't have left immediately after collision, and the act of 'finishing her off' would be a deliberate act. Of course, it is possible that something else has occurred but the police have simply issued factual statements.

 

[Unit45]

Yep. And it will be very interesting to find out what evidence they currently have. Because I doubt they would have charged him with murder based only on a theory.

Is it possible they have SM's blood on his belongings and or in a vehicle he owns or known to have used?

 

[Cyber_punk]

Maybe not cooperating at all is indicative that he had help and doesn't want to rat any accomplices out? I've seen the nazi links posted a couple of times both here and on other sites. Makes you wonder..

 

[Feerits Elf]

Is it possible they have SM's blood on his belongings and or in a vehicle he owns or known to have used?

Absolutely. It's highly probable they've found her blood in the ute they seized.

 

[Feerits Elf]

So speculating but do we think this not cooperating at all is indicative that he had help and doesn't want to rat anyone out?

No, that's indicative that he understands his rights.

 

[ElliottsMaggies]

Yes but say the police just want to charge someone to close an investigation and get the media attention off them, what if there is corruption from both police and DPP/OPP in that they agree to charge someone just for this reason? What is stopping them from doing this?

Why would they want to do that? Purposely arrest & charge an innocent person? Have no body found (like in this case)? Go to court only for that person to not be convicted because there's not enough evidence? The crime remains unsolved all due to shoddy police work (not to mention corruption as you say).

I think the media attention would be even more insane.

 

[kaiserchief13]

Why would they want to do that? Purposely arrest & charge an innocent person? Have no body found (like in this case)? Go to court only for that person to not be convicted because there's not enough evidence? The crime remains unsolved all due to shoddy police work (not to mention corruption as you say).

I think the media attention would be even more insane.

Why? To close the investigation and get the media off their backs

Media will forget about the case come trial time

 

[BILC]

Those statements are mutually exclusive. If he has indeed hit her and then killed her it is not a hit and run because he wouldn't have left immediately after collision, and the act of 'finishing her off' would be a deliberate act. Of course, it is possible that something else has occurred but the police have simply issued factual statements.

Fair enough, I understand the two are mutually exclusive but they just sound like strange answers if that's how they think it's gone down.

 

[ElliottsMaggies]

Is it possible they have SM's blood on his belongings and or in a vehicle he owns or known to have used?

Definitely. And they knew where they wanted to search as soon as they arrested him. Multiple search warrants.

 

[ElliottsMaggies]

Why? To close the investigation and get the media off their backs

Media will forget about the case come trial time

The media & public doesn't forget about the case come trial time. That's when we hear what evidence they had and what actually transpired.

 

[Pamcake1]

This is why I won't be posting any more in this thread. The last 10-15 pages has descended to unsubstantiated speculation and rumour, and bickering over minor differences, which IMO, add nothing of value to the discussion.

I hope for Samantha Murphy's family and friends, and the family and friends of the accused who have to continue to live in the same community, that this matter is resolved, Samantha is returned to her family, and the people across the board affected by this can begin a journey of healing (if at all possible).

Good luck to you all.

I absolutely agree with your stance here geoffjennings79
I've ignored most of it in the last 2 days and I'm doing the same as you.

 

[FrankGrimes]

Herald sun with an update.
Went on a bender night before alleged murder doing coke, police have been on To him for 2 weeks, some Cctv helped them look at him, not ruling out being deliberately hit by car.., somebody might be able to copy and paste actual article?
also said police have been keeping details to themselves to not alert suspect, are now releasing more details

 

[BFew]

Here's the update tonight from the HSun.
The alleged short video from Snapchat is playable in the article.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/accused-killer-patrick-orren-stephenson-went-on-massive-bender-night-before-mum-went-missing/news-story/2626da44c0d68d2466fa4c62212e2dfe

'Accused killer Patrick Orren Stephenson

Orren Stephenson

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went on a bender night before mum went missing​

Olivia Jenkins, Mark Buttler, Regan Hodge, Fergus Ellis and Ash Argoon

March 8, 2024 - 8:46PM

Associates of accused murderer Patrick Orren Stephenson

Orren Stephenson

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42

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200cm

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104kg

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18.4

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say the 22-year-old went on a “massive bender” the night before Samantha Murphy was killed.

People close to the charged man have told the Herald Sun he was at a party where cocaine was consumed before attending The Deck in Ballarat, which is open until 3am.

A video appears to show lines of a white substance racked up on a mobile phone.

The footage was filmed by Mr Stephenson’s girlfriend and two other friends with the footage uploaded to social media platform Snapchat.

It is believed police are aware of the video, with detectives also seizing CCTV footage from outside Volta nightclub and several other venues on the night of February 3 and morning of February 4, up to two weeks ago.
...
Previously, the inquiry was covert with little information flowing from those directly investigating.

Even close colleagues were kept in the dark because of the need to keep the suspect unaware he was under scrutiny.

The gossip wildfires surrounding the case would have meant there was a risk even a small detail innocently passed on could reach the wrong ears.

But with detectives showing their hand with Wednesday’s swoop, they are now free to openly make inquiries.

This would include taking statements from those close to Mr Stephenson and starting to ask questions publicly about his movements on February 3 and 4.

It is understood officers have been surveilling Mr Stephenson for up to two weeks. But the seizure of his vehicle on Wednesday could not have been done earlier because it would have sounded the alarm.

There are suggestions a short piece of CCTV gleaned early on in the investigation was a key element in Mr Stephenson becoming a suspect. He has so far refused to help investigators find Ms Murphy’s body, Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said.
...'

 

[nut]

Was she still alive when he put her in his car?
My theory is still, he was wasted, he hit her with the car, stopped, panicked and put her in the boot or back of Ute … he thought she was dead? Police have iWatch heart monitoring evidence that she was still alive after the last ping.
Police pressuring him that he is a murderer because the evidence shows she was still alive whilst moving in his car.
She dies when he dumps her body…

I’m sticking with this theory

 

[Radarz11]

My first post here, apologies if I'm repeating anything that's already been said.

I'm a Ballarat local.

Firstly, the tracks through those forests are well known as a back-way for people DUI to travel between Ballarat and Mt Clear/ Mt Helen / Buninyong and avoid main roads for part of the way, and therefore avoid police detection.

Secondly, a murder charge can result from "a reckless indifference to human life". For example, deliberately removing and not rendering assistance to a person who, theoretically, had been hit by a car..