Samantha Murphy has been missing for more than six months. Photo: Victoria Police / Supplied
- Patrick Orren Stephenson, 23, has faced court after being charged with the murder of missing Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy, who disappeared while on a jog over six months ago.
- Stephenson's defence and prosecutors requested a 12-week adjournment in order to go through a "huge amount" of evidence.
- What's next? Stephenson will remain in custody until the matter returns to court on November 14.
An "unprecedented" amount of evidence, including extensive CCTV footage, is causing delays in court for the matter of Patrick Orren Stephenson, accused of murdering Victorian woman Samantha Murphy.
The 23-year-old appeared before the Ballarat Magistrates' Court via video link on Thursday.
He wore a white t-shirt and occasionally glanced around the empty room he sat in, only speaking to acknowledge that he could hear the magistrate on a few occasions.
Stephenson was arrested and charged with murdering Murphy in March, more than a month after her disappearance.
Murphy had left her Ballarat East home for a morning run on 4 February and was reported missing after she failed to return home.
Her body has never been found despite several police and community searches.
Family of Stephenson as well as loved ones of Murphy tuned in online to listen to the hearing.
'Huge amount of material' compiled for murder case
In Thursday's hearing, Magistrate Mark Stratmann acknowledged the public interest in the case and that it needed to "move promptly".
One of Stephenson's lawyers, Moya O'Brien, said she was yet to receive the CCTV footage and would need time to review it.
"It has been described as unprecedented in terms of size," she said.
She requested at least a 12-week adjournment, a move also supported by the prosecution.
"Given the huge amount of material to be gone through and taking instruction from Mr Stephenson, that is an adequate amount of time in our submission," O'Brien said.
Stephenson is also facing charges for a traffic offence but the details of that are not yet clear.
A media application for the charges was also adjourned until Stephenson's next appearance. Stratmann said there was not enough time to discuss the matter during Thursday's hearing.
Stephenson will remain in custody until the matter returns to court on 14 November.
- ABC
