Murphy’s husband, Mick, was seated in the front row of the court.
“The accused has elected to stand trial for the offence of murder and signed that form on the understanding that he will be committed, by your honour, for trial in the Supreme Court of Melbourne,” Crown prosecutor Ray Gibson said.
The magistrate also reminded Stephenson that he now had 14 days from today to file alibi evidence if he wished to raise any at trial. He told the 23-year-old that it was “very important” to obtain legal representation for the trial.
“Do you understand those matters, sir?” Stratmann asked.
“Yes, your honour,” Stephenson replied.
Murphy was reported missing by her family on February 4 after she failed to attend a brunch.
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Police believe she had earlier left her Ballarat East house for a trail run along Woowookarung Regional Park, and was last captured on CCTV outside her Blairs Lane home, dressed in a maroon singlet and black running tights.
Murphy’s disappearance sparked major searches by police and members of the local community, but she is yet to be found.
Earlier, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said investigators believed Murphy had died at Mount Clear the day she went missing, in what he described as a deliberate killing.
The court heard Stephenson was also facing five unrelated driving charges that were expected to progress ahead of a further hearing for those matters in December.
Court documents released to the press show that on October 1, 2023, Stephenson allegedly returned an alcohol reading of .148 and tested positive for MDMA when intercepted by Ballarat highway patrol police.
He is also accused of careless driving in Armstrong Creek South on the same day.
Stephenson was remanded in custody to appear in the Supreme Court for a directions hearing on November 27.
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