<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>333073</docID> <postdate>2024-11-14 12:04:13</postdate> <headline>Accused fast tracks his trial over missing mum</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-333074" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20240916135400013795-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>Patrick Orren Stephenson has pleaded not guilty to murdering Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Emily Woods</strong> in Melbourne</span></p> <p><strong>The man accused of killing missing mother Samantha Murphy has pleaded not guilty to murder as he elected to fast-track his criminal trial.</strong></p> <p>The 51-year-old mother of three disappeared on February 4 and despite several police searches, her body has not been found.</p> <p>Patrick Orren Stephenson faced Ballarat Magistrates Court on Thursday via video link from prison, wearing a white T-shirt with a beard, long hair and a black watch.</p> <p>The 23-year-old has been charged with Ms Murphy's murder at Mount Clear, near Ballarat, after she disappeared.</p> <p>Ms Murphy's husband Mick attended the brief hearing, marking the first time he has presented at court in person since his wife's alleged killing.</p> <p>Prosecutor Raymond Gibson KC informed the court that Stephenson had elected to stand trial in the Supreme Court over the murder.</p> <p>This will mean Stephenson does not face a committal hearing to test the evidence in the lower court.</p> <p>Defence barrister Michael Allen said his client understood his rights in electing to fast track the case.</p> <p>Magistrate Mark Stratmann committed Stephenson to stand trial and asked him to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty to the murder charge.</p> <p>"Not guilty Your Honour," Stephenson responded.</p> <p>He will be remanded in custody to next face the Supreme Court for a directions hearing on November 27.</p> <p>Stephenson is the son of former AFL player Orren Stephenson, who played 15 games for Geelong and Richmond between 2012 and 2014.</p> <p>Ms Murphy was last seen leaving her home on Eureka Street, Ballarat, to go for a run on the morning of February 4.</p> <p>Since then, police have launched multiple searches searches in different areas of bushland to find Ms Murphy's body, including Enfield State Forest in September.</p> <p>Stephenson is separately facing driving offences over a collision with a motorcycle months before Ms Murphy's disappearance.</p> <p>He has been charged with careless driving, drink driving and drug driving after a crash on October 1 in 2023, the Sunday after the AFL grand final.</p> </body>