Alleged killer's female friend breaks cover near the Ballarat retreat where man ... trends now
A woman believed to be a close friend of the accused killer of Samantha Murphy has spotted near the rural property where the alleged killer was arrested two days ago.
The identity of the man accused of killing Ms Murphy has been revealed as Patrick Orren Stephenson, the only son of former AFL star Orren Stephenson after a suppression order was lifted on Friday.
Stephenson, 22, from Scotsburn was arrested on Wednesday in the Ballarat suburb of Mount Clear - about 5km from Ms Murphy's Ballarat East home in Victoria. He was charged with murder the next day.
On Friday, a woman believed to a close friend of Stephenson's was seen training and tending to a horse at the rear of a property not far from where he was arrested.
She refused to comment when approached by Daily Mail Australia but was observed standing, sitting and blowing kisses at the horse.
Stephenson was arrested just up the road at another property on Yendon No 2 Road.
It is understood detectives raided that property around 6.30am on Wednesday and seized a car.
The woman who is believed to a close friend of Patrick Orren Stephenson was seen out training a horse on Friday. She declined to comment when approached by Daily Mail Australia
The Mount Clear property where Mr Stephenson, 22, was arrested on Wednesday
Patrick Orren Stephenson (pictured centre, with his father Orren and mother Whitney) has been charged with the alleged murder of Samantha Murphy
Detectives are reportedly investigating if Ms Murphy may have been struck by a car on the Sunday she vanished, but police have ruled out a hit-and-run accident.
Stephenson, a tradie - who was also a renowned local football player himself - appeared in court in a bright orange hi-viz worker's jacket on Thursday to face charges of murdering Ms Murphy on February 4 - the day she disappeared.
He appeared interested in the court proceedings going on around him and kept his composure, occasionally gazing at journalists and the magistrate and lawyers.
When asked by Magistrate Michelle Mykytowycz if he could hear her, Stephenson, who had a scruffy beard, said: 'Yes, your honour'.
The alleged killer's identity can only now be fully revealed after a court-imposed gag order was finally scrapped on Friday.
A magistrate immediately banned media from identifying him but the blackout was lifted after an appeal by media including Daily Mail Australia at a court hearing on Friday morning.
Stephenson (pictured) appeared relaxed during his first court appearance on Thursday
The 22-year-old was arrested on Wednesday morning at his home in Scotsburn
Patrick Orren Stephenson (right) and his former AFL footballer dad Orren in happier times
Stephenson's father Orren made headlines when he made his elite AFL debut at the age of 30 as a ruckman for Geelong in 2012 before joining Richmond as a rookie in 2013.
He was the oldest first-round draft pick in the history of the sport.
Orren married his highschool sweetheart Whitney with the pair going on to have three children - Stephenson being the middle child and only son.
'It's been fantastic and a massive bonus. For my wife and the kids, it's something they'll never forget so I'm pretty blessed to be able to share it with them,' Orren told AFL.com.au in 2013 when discussing his footy career.
'Patrick last year was rolling around the rooms with the Geelong Cats and this year he's rolling around with the Richmond Tiger boys.
'He wouldn't pass it up for quids. He loves it and the girls have had a lot of fun with it as well. It's a massive bonus that we can share these pretty good times in our lives with our kids.'
The retired 41-year-old player grew up in Wagga Wagga in New South Wales - the birthplace of bonafide AFL champion Wayne Carey.
The family moved to Ballarat in 2002 to be close to Ms Stephenson's family, and set up an electronics company, Elite Voice and Data, which was run out of their
