Bradley John Murdoch transferred from prison to Alice Springs Hospital amid end-of-life care and supervised excursions

Sky News AU

24-06-2025

Bradley John Murdoch, the man convicted of murdering British backpacker Peter Falconio, has been moved from prison into palliative care at Alice Springs Hospital, where he is reportedly receiving end-of-life treatment under supervision.
The 67-year-old, who was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer in 2019, is understood to have been transferred recently from Alice Springs Correctional Centre, where he had been serving a life sentence since 2022.
Once held at Holtze prison near Darwin, Murdoch has now been transferred to the hospital's palliative unit and is no longer incarcerated within a secure facility.
It's understood the convicted killer has also been permitted to leave the hospital on escorted excursions around Alice Springs, accompanied by senior corrections officers - a move which has raised eyebrows given his refusal to reveal what happened to Mr Falconio's body.
While he is not on parole, this has raised scrutiny over the Northern Territory's parole laws for killers who refuse to disclose the location of their victims' remains.
Despite being sentenced to life imprisonment with a 28-year non-parole period, Murdoch has never disclosed the whereabouts of the 28-year-old British backpacker's remains.
Under legislation introduced in the Northern Territory in 2016 - commonly known as the 'no body, no parole' law - convicted murderers are barred from parole eligibility unless they assist in locating their victim.
Murdoch was not expected to be eligible for parole until 2032.
The Northern Territory Department of Corrections declined to comment directly on Murdoch's movements or medical condition.
NT Health similarly cited privacy concerns in declining to confirm Murdoch's treatment status.
Murdoch was convicted in 2005 of murdering Peter Falconio, who had been travelling through central Australia with his girlfriend Joanne Lees in July 2001.
The couple were driving their Kombi van along the Stuart Highway near Barrow Creek when Murdoch flagged them down, claiming their vehicle was emitting sparks.
As Mr Falconio checked the rear of the van, Murdoch shot him dead and then attempted to abduct Ms Lees, binding her and forcing her into his four-wheel drive.
Ms Lees later escaped and hid in nearby scrubland for several hours before flagging down a passing truck.
During the trial, it was revealed that Murdoch disposed of Mr Falconio's body somewhere between Alice Springs and Broome - a vast area spanning almost 2,000km.
Despite extensive searches, his remains have never been located.
Murdoch has maintained his innocence throughout, refusing to cooperate with investigators.
His conviction was upheld after two unsuccessful appeals, and the High Court refused him leave to appeal in 2007.
'I doubt that any description is capable of fully conveying the true extent of the trauma and terror that you imposed upon (Ms Lees),' Chief Justice Brian Martin told Murdoch at his sentencing in Darwin's Supreme Court.
'It must have been close to the worst nightmare imaginable.'