New details have emerged about the son of a former AFL player charged with the murder of missing Ballarat mum Samantha Murphy.
The 22-year-old’s name has been suppressed by a Victorian court in case he self harms.
The man’s name and face had already been circulated on Thursday after he was charged.
But Ballarat Magistrates’ Court placed a temporary gagging order on his name until Friday, March 8, when a full suppression hearing will be held.
The man’s defence lawyer David Tamanika told the court that the man was in custody for the first time and had no mental health or drug issues.
However, Mr Tamanika said there was a risk of self-harm given the seriousness of the charges.
No loved ones of the accused were present at the court hearing. He had been taken into custody shortly after 6am on Wednesday at his home.
Neighbours, who were stunned by the arrest, told of a man who enjoyed a charmed childhood and loved the access his father’s work gave him to the front line of AFL.
The man’s father brought him to clubrooms which allowed him to mix with players, The Age reported.
The accused was reportedly living between his own home and his parents’ home when he was arrested.
Neighbours said he used to ride his bike in the street and had “gregarious sisters”.
“They were wonderful, absolutely wonderful neighbours,” said one. “I didn’t really know [the man], I only really know girls.”
“I was totally amazed, I didn’t expect it at all, didn’t know what was going on, particularly when I got home [to the street] full of cars.”
Police are alleging that Ms Murphy’s murder occurred at Mount Clear, less than 10km from her hometown of Ballarat, on the day she disappeared.
Investigators claimed it was not a hit and run incident.
It was the first time any arrest has been made in the case, which has gripped the country and sparked wild conspiracy theories.
Ballarat mayor Des Hudson, a former police officer, told the Herald Sun on Friday the Murphy family had endured hurtful and baseless gossip for the past month and urged the community to be “better than that”.
