The identity of a former AFL player’s son accused of murdering Samantha Murphy has been revealed as the search continues for her body.
Five weeks since Ms Murphy vanished after setting out from her Ballarat East home, police on Thursday charged Patrick Orren Stephenson with murdering the mother-of-three at Mount Clear.
The 22-year-old is the son of former Geelong Cats and Richmond Tigers player Orren Stephenson.
A temporary suppression order on the murder-accused’s identity was struck out at Ballarat Magistrates Court on Friday after media outlets argued against it and defence lawyer David Tamanika withdrew his application to keep Stephenson’s details secret.
Stephenson’s family home is in Mount Clear, where he often stayed, while he lives in Scotsburn, about 16km from Ballarat.
He went to the Geelong and Richmond clubs with his father as a child and became passionate about football, having a sideline seat to elite players.
“Patrick last year was rolling around the rooms with the Geelong Cats and this year he’s rolling around with the Richmond Tiger boys,” his father told AFL Media in 2013.
“He wouldn’t pass it up for quids. He loves it and the girls (Stephenson’s siblings) have had a lot of fun with it as well. It’s a massive bonus that we can share these pretty good times in our lives with our kids.”
The murder-accused went on to play in the under-19s at Redan Football Club.
The Stephensons are longtime Ballarat residents, having moved to the regional city from the NSW Riverina in 2002.
Mr Tamanika on Thursday argued releasing the 22-year-old’s name could prejudice his right to a fair trial.
He said his client had poor mental health since he was arrested.
Stephenson fronted court on Thursday with a short beard, scruffy hair and still wearing hi-vis workwear.
He is due to face a committal mention on August 8.
Detectives from the missing persons squad arrested Stephenson, who is not linked to the Murphy family, at his home about 6am on Wednesday before later charging him with murder.
The 22-year-old has refused to disclose the location of Ms Murphy’s body, Police Commissioner Shane Patton said.
“We are alleging a deliberate attack that has caused the death of Samantha,” Mr Patton told reporters on Thursday.
Police and specialist detectives are continuing a desperate search for the body of Ms Murphy, who was last seen on February 4.
“Investigations will continue at a very heavy pace,” Mr Patton said.
“Doing everything we can to locate Samantha’s body for the family is absolutely vital.”
Police are not looking for anyone else in connection to the alleged murder.
Ballarat mayor Des Hudson said news of the arrest was devastating but brought the community some closure.
“What we heard yesterday is the confirmation that Samantha will never come home to her family,” he told ABC News on Friday morning.
“They will never have a beautiful mother, a beautiful wife to be with them.”
He urged the public to let the investigation run its course and avoid speculating.
Ms Murphy’s husband Michael on Thursday told of his relief from the arrest, describing the past few weeks as “s***house” while telling of how the community had rallied around his family.
Anyone who has information, including CCTV or dash-cam footage from the time Ms Murphy went missing, has been asked to come forward.
Weeks of extensive searching began around Ballarat after Ms Murphy disappeared, with trained emergency services workers joined by hundreds of concerned locals.
They combed dense bush, private land and walking tracks.
Ms Murphy’s disappearance was out of character as she had been described as mentally and physically fit, and was training for an upcoming race by doing 15km runs.
A vigil will be held in Ballarat on Friday evening near Ms Murphy’s home.
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