Patrick Orren Stephenson: Alleged Sam Murphy killer fined $2,500 after pleading guilty to charges over October 2023 drunk motorcycle crash

The man police allege murdered Samantha Murphy has been fined $2,500 over a drunk motorcycle crash following Grand Final celebrations.

Patrick Orren Stephenson, 24, returned before the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, pleading guilty to careless driving, driving while intoxicated and driving with MDMA in his system.

Wearing a blue shirt and sporting a bushy beard, he remained expressionless throughout the hearing.

The court was told Mr Stephenson crashed while riding his motorcycle home after attending a Grand Final celebration with friends.

He was found by police lying injured in the middle of Armstrong Street South Hwy in Ballarat about 1.45am on October 1, 2023, after losing control in the wet conditions with his Black Kawasaki motorcycle sliding out.

Attending officers stated they had “difficulty communicating” with Mr Stephenson due to his intoxication and he was taken to the local Ballarat Base Hospital.

A blood test later showed he was almost three times the legal alcohol limit and had MDMA in his system.

His lawyer, Moya O’Brien, told the court the offending was accepted and argued her client should receive a fine.

She said he has been seriously injured in the crash and spent two weeks in hospital with injuries including a spinal fracture, broken ribs, broken pelvis and lacerated spleen and head trauma.

“He is still undergoing some follow up and review,” Ms O'Brien said.

The defence lawyer told the court Mr Stephenson “doesn’t have a great memory of the accident” due to his injuries.

She said he had been on remand since March 6, but “enjoys the support of his parents and siblings... and enjoys contact with his long-term partner”.

Prosecutors submitted the offending was made more serious as Mr Stephenson was serving a two-year good behaviour bond at the time for similar offending.

But they accepted a fine was the appropriate sentence.

Magistrate Guillaume Bailin fined Mr Stephenson $2,500 and imposed a 28-month licence disqualification.

“It is luck alone that no one else was injured or that you weren't killed,” he said.

“But for your plea of guilty it is highly likely I would have imposed a short term of imprisonment.”

The crash is unrelated to the alleged murder of Samantha Murphy, 51, on February 4 last year.

He has pleaded not guilty to that charge and was committed to stand trial in the Supreme Court.