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Patrick Stephenson, the man charged with the alleged murder of Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy, is reportedly in hospital following an incident in prison.
A spokesperson for Corrections Victoria confirmed a prisoner from the Melbourne Assessment Prison was transported to hospital on Friday for medical assessment.
Nine News reported that the prisoner was Patrick Stephenson.
He was charged with one count of murder over the disappearance of the 51-year-old mother-of-three who vanished on February 4, 2024.
Stephenson has pleaded not guilty to the charges. His trial is currently listed to begin on August 31.
Murphy’s family reported her disappearance to police on February 4, after she failed to attend a brunch. She had earlier left her Ballarat East home for an early morning trail run in the Woowookarung Regional Park, formerly known as Canadian State Forest.
She was last captured on CCTV outside her Blairs Lane home, dressed in a maroon singlet and black running tights.
Police are continuing to look for her remains. Extensive searches that have involved police and members of the public have failed to find anything.
If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact Lifeline 131 114, or Beyond Blue 1300 224 636.
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