A trial date has been set for the alleged murder of Samantha Murphy, a Ballarat mother who disappeared on her morning run.
Accused murderer Patrick Orren Stephenson, 23, is set to face a Supreme Court trial on April 8, 2026.
The trial is expected to last about six weeks.
Pre-trial arguments for the prosecution and defence are likely to begin as early as November, 2025.
Stephenson has pleaded not guilty to Ms Murphy’s alleged murder.
Ms Murphy, a mother of three, vanished after going for a run on February 4, 2024, through the Canadian State Forest in regional Victoria.
Despite numerous police and volunteer searches, her body has never been found.
More to come…
A trial date has been set for the alleged murder of Samantha Murphy (pictured)
