Sam Murphy’s accused murderer Patrick Orren Stephenson hires top lawyer Paul Galbally
The man accused of killing missing mother Samantha Murphy has hired a top criminal defense attorney.
Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, was charged with the murder of 51-year-old Ms Murphy in early March.
The mother-of-three, from Ballarat in rural Victoria, has not been seen since she disappeared during an early morning walk on Sunday, February 4.
Police allege Mr Stephenson killed her that morning. Her remains have yet to be found.
Patrick Orren Stephenson (pictured), 22, was charged with the murder of Ms Murphy, 51, in early March
The mother-of-three, from Ballarat in rural Victoria, has not been seen since she disappeared during an early morning walk on Sunday, February 4.
Now he has hired Paul Galbally from Melbourne-based law firm Galbally O’Bryan, he reports The Australian.
Mr Galbally represented the late Catholic Cardinal George Pell, whose conviction on historic child abuse charges was overturned by the High Court.
He has previously said he does not feel uncomfortable appearing for those accused of the most serious crimes.
“You either have an attitude or a personality that can handle this work, or you don’t,” he said in a 2009 interview.
Galbally O’Bryan’s website states that Mr Galbally has ‘led some of the largest and most complex criminal cases in the country’.
“His experience includes representing clients at public inquiries, royal commissions and defending prosecutions by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission,” the website adds.
“Paul is recognized throughout the legal profession for his judgement, sound strategic advice and discretion, and is listed in Doyles Guide as one of Australia’s leading criminal lawyers.”
He has hired Paul Galbally (pictured, left) of Melbourne-based law firm Galbally O’Bryan to represent him
Daily Mail Australia approached Mr Galbally for comment.
Last week, detectives made the first major breakthrough in the hunt for Ms Murphy since arresting her alleged killer almost three months ago.
On Wednesday, police launched a new search for her remains, focusing on a dam on a property south of Buninyong, about 14 km from her home.
Aerial footage from the scene showed officers finding the mud-splattered mobile phone in a wallet at the water’s edge, prompting jubilant celebrations among detectives standing nearby.
Video captured by the ABC showed police hugging, slapping and shaking hands in the aftermath of the discovery.
It was later confirmed that it belonged to Mrs. Murphy.
The location is close to where her phone last made contact with a nearby tower in the Buninyong region before going silent.
The dam is about 15km from Ballarat East, where Ms Murphy was last seen heading out for her final run on February 4.
Police claim Ms Murphy’s killer is believed to have dumped the phone in the dam before heading to the Durham Reserve to dispose of her body.
