Man accused of murdering Samantha Murphy charged with driving offences over unrelated incident [Video]

The man accused of murdering Victorian woman Samantha Murphy has been hit with fresh charges over an unrelated incident last year.

Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, has been charged by police on summons with drink and drug driving offences following a single-vehicle motorcycle crash in Ballarat on October 1, the day after the AFL grand final.

He has also been charged with careless driving. The charges do not relate to Murphy’s disappearance.

Stephenson was charged with one count of murder in March over the disappearance of Murphy, 51.

9News understands Stephenson is not cooperating with the investigation.

Stephenson, the son of former AFL player Orren Stephenson, remains in custody.