Man charged over Samantha Murphy's death hit with fresh charges
The man accused of Samantha Murphy’s murder has been charged over a crash months before the Ballarat mother’s alleged killing.
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.
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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.
