Stephenson's Court Hearing Adjourned in Murphy Case

Patrick Orren Stephenson, the man accused of murdering Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy, has undergone a notable change in appearance while in custody, including bulking up and shaving off his beard. Stephenson, 23, appeared via video link from the Melbourne Assessment Prison for a court hearing on Thursday. Both prosecution and defense requested a three-month adjournment due to the unprecedented size of the brief of evidence, which includes extensive CCTV footage. Magistrate Mark Stratmann granted the adjournment but expressed concern over the prolonged detention. Despite extensive searches, Murphy's body has not been found since her disappearance on February 4. Stephenson, who has no connection to the Murphy family, remains in protective custody and will return to court on November 14.