Samantha Murphy: Patrick Stephenson, accused of murder pleads guilty to driving offences after riding high on MDMA

A man who is set to face trial for the murder of Samantha Murphy has been fined $2500 after he admitted careless, drug and drink driving charges.

Patrick Stephenson, 24, appeared via videolink at Ballarat Magistrates Court on Thursday morning where he pleaded guilty to three offences committed on October 1, 2023.

The son of ex-AFL footballer Orren Stephenson was riding his motorcycle home after attending a party to celebrate the grand final when he came off it about 1.42am, the court was told.

Police found Stephenson lying in the middle of Armstrong Street South in Ballarat, with his black Kawasaki on its side in the service lane.

“The motorcycle has slid out from underneath the accused, which had ejected the accused from the motorcycle,” the prosecutor told the court.

“Police had difficulty communicating with the accused due to his current state of intoxication.”

She said Stephenson could not produce his driver’s licence but gave police his name, phone number and address before he was taken to hospital.

His blood was analysed and he tested positive to MDMA, with a blood alcohol reading of 0.148.

Stephenson pleaded guilty to drug, drink and careless driving, with two other charges struck out.

His barrister Moya O’Brien asked for her client to be fined for the offending and acknowledged he is on remand in prison for more serious offences.

He has separately been committed to stand trial for the murder of missing Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy, after pleading not guilty to the offence in November.

Ms O’Brien said it was “most fortunately” a single-vehicle accident in wet road conditions and only Stephenson was injured.

He spent two weeks at Royal Melbourne Hospital after suffering a lacerated spleen, broken pelvis, broken ribs and some head injuries, she said.

“He is still undergoing some follow-up treatment and review, and that has been seen to whilst in custody,” his barrister said.

“At the time of the offence ... he instructs me that he had attended a party in relation to grand final football celebrations on that night.”

She said Stephenson’s parents, siblings and long-term partner supported him and were in regular contact with him while he is on remand.

Magistrate Guillaume Bailin found his blood-alcohol reading charge was the most serious as it fell into the high range and took into account he was on a good behaviour bond for similar offending at the time.

However, as he had pleaded guilty at an early stage and was on remand for more serious offending, the magistrate said available sentences in the lower court were limited.

He fined Stephenson $2500, convicted him of the charges and cancelled his driving licence for 28 months.