The man accused of murdering missing mother Samantha Murphy has hired a top criminal defense attorney.
Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, was charged with the murder of Murphy, 51, in early March.
The mother-of-three, from Ballarat in rural Victoria, has not been seen since she went missing while out on an early morning run on Sunday, February 4.
Police allege Stephenson killed her that morning. Her remains have not yet been found.
It has now hired Paul Galbally from Melbourne-based law firm Galbally O’Bryan, it reported The Australian.
Patrick Orren Stephenson (pictured), 22, was charged with the murder of Murphy, 51, in early March.
The mother-of-three, from Ballarat in rural Victoria, has not been seen since she went missing while out on an early morning run on Sunday, February 4.
Galbally represented the late Catholic Cardinal George Pell, whose conviction on historic child abuse charges was overturned by the High Court.
He had previously said he did not feel uncomfortable acting on behalf of people accused of the most serious crimes.
“Either you have a disposition or a personality that can handle this job or you don’t,” he said in a 2009 interview.
Galbally O’Bryan’s website states that Galbally has “handled some of the largest and most complex criminal cases in the country.”
“His experience includes representing clients before public inquiries, royal commissions and defending Australian Securities and Investments Commission proceedings,” 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 defense lawyers.”
Patrick Orren Stephenson has retained Paul Galbally (pictured, left) of Melbourne-based law firm Galbally O’Bryan to represent him.
Patrick Orren Stephenson (pictured)
Daily Mail Australia has approached Mr Galbally for comment.
Last week, detectives made the first major breakthrough in the search for Ms Murphy since arresting her alleged killer almost three months ago.
On Wednesday, police began a new search for his remains, focusing on a dam on a property south of Buninyong, about 14 kilometers from his home.
Aerial footage from the scene showed officers locating the mud-spattered mobile phone in a wallet at the water’s edge, prompting jubilant celebrations among detectives nearby.
Video captured by ABC showed police hugging, patting each other on the back and shaking hands following the discovery.
It was later confirmed that it belonged to Ms Murphy.
The location is near where his phone last made contact with a nearby tower in the Buninyong region before going silent.
The dam is about 15 kilometers from Ballarat East, where Ms Murphy was last seen doing her final run on February 4.
Police allege Ms Murphy’s killer probably dumped the phone in the dam before heading to Durham Reserve to dispose of her body.