Samantha Murphy's accused killer fined over driving offences
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The man accused with murdering Samantha Murphy has been fined and convicted for driving offences in the months before the Ballarat mother's disappearance.
Patrick Stephenson has been ordered to pay $2,500 over a crash that occurred in October 2023 when the man was under the influence of drugs.
The son of ex-AFL footballer Orren Stephenson was riding his motorcycle home after attending a party to celebrate the grand final when he came off it about 1.42am, the court was told.
Police found Stephenson lying in the middle of Armstrong Street South in Ballarat, with his black Kawasaki on its side in the service lane.
"The motorcycle has slid out from underneath the accused, which had ejected the accused from the motorcycle," the prosecutor told the court.
"Police had difficulty communicating with the accused due to his current state of intoxication."
His blood was analysed and he tested positive to MDMA, with a blood alcohol reading of 0.148.
Stephenson pleaded guilty to drug, drink and careless driving, with two other charges struck out.
He has separately been committed to stand trial for the murder of missing Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy, after pleading not guilty to the offence in November.
Mr Stephenson was charged with Samantha's murder in March, just weeks after the 51-year-old went missing after leaving home for a morning run on February 4th.
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