The Supreme Court has scheduled a trial date for Patrick Orren Stephenson, who is accused of murdering Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy. The trial is set to begin on April 8, 2026.
Stephenson, a Ballarat man, was arrested in March after Murphy disappeared while jogging on February 4. Despite extensive police and community searches, her body has not been found.
On Tuesday, the court announced that the trial will take place in Ballarat and is expected to last approximately six weeks. Pre-trial deadlines have been set for both the prosecution and defense, with pre-trial arguments scheduled to start in November.
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