Family hoping for answers as man accused over Samantha Murphy disappearance faces court
The man charged with Samantha Murphy’s alleged murder is set to front court on Thursday — with renewed hope it could shed light on her disappearance.
Victorian mum-of-three Murphy, 51, sparked a massive police search operation when she vanished after leaving her Ballarat East home on February 4 for a 14km-run along a route she regularly travelled in the Canadian State Forest.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Criminologist Xanthe Mallet speaks about Samantha Murphy disappearance.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.She remains missing, despite searches in the Buninyong area and extensive searches of the Canadian State Forest and Enfield State Park.
Police arrested tradesman Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, in March and allege he murdered Murphy at nearby Mount Clear on the day she went missing.
His case is set for a mention on Thursday, August 8 and on Monday, criminologist, Xanthé Mallett, appeared on Sunrise, speaking about the much-anticipated court appearance.
“We have a mention, where crown (prosecutors) will appear in court — they may have a request from the judge, they may set a date for a committal hearing, where the evidence gets tested,” Mallet said.
“The accused still hasn’t entered a plea.
“This is very much a preliminary stage. So we will have to wait a little longer at least before we start to get some of those answers (about her disappearance).”
It has now been six months since Murphy’s disappearance.
In May, Victorian police revealed they had found Murphy’s phone during a targeted search near a dam in Buninyong, not far from Murphy’s Ballarat home, with hopes it would yield answers.
Mallet said the answers might eventually come at the committal hearing.
“(The police have been) very tight-lipped about where they’re up to,” Mallet said.
“(The investigation) feels very quiet from the outside.
“But obviously, when they get to court, they may request for a further extension if they need more time before the committal.
“We will have to wait for the court case to play out before we get a chance (to see) where we’re at (with the investigation).”
Originally published on Sunrise
