The 23-year-old accused of killing Ballarat mum Samantha Murphy has faced the Supreme Court in Melbourne for the first time.

Patrick Orren Stephenson appeared through a video link for a directions hearing this afternoon.

The details of the hearing cannot be reported under Victorian law.

Samantha Murphy and Patrick Orren Stephenson.
Samantha Murphy and Patrick Orren Stephenson. (Supplied)

Stephenson has pleaded not guilty to the murder of the 51-year-old, who went for a run earlier this year and has not been seen since.

Stephenson remains in custody and will face court in Melbourne again in February next year, more than a year after Samantha Murphy’s disappearance.

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