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Family of Peter Falconio say ‘weight has been lifted' after his killer dies

Family of Peter Falconio say ‘weight has been lifted' after his killer dies

Joan and Luciano Falconio said they 'still hold out hope that his remains will be found' after Australian police confirmed that Bradley John Murdoch had died.
Murdoch was convicted in 2005 of murdering Mr Falconio, 28, and assaulting his girlfriend Joanne Lees at gunpoint on a remote stretch of road near Barrow Creek in Australia's Northern Territory on July 14 2001.
Mr Falconio and Ms Lees, both from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, were travelling across the country in a camper van when they were ambushed by Murdoch on the isolated Stuart Highway.
Murdoch was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for at least 28 years.
Murdoch, 67, was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer in 2019 and was moved to palliative care from Alice Springs Correctional Centre last month, according to local media reports.
The Northern Territory Department of Corrections confirmed that Murdoch died in hospital in Alice Springs.
In a statement issued to the BBC, Mr and Mrs Falconio said on Wednesday: 'Upon hearing that Bradley John Murdoch had died our first feeling was of relief, it's like a weight that's been lifted.
'We are only forced to think about him now that he's died, we don't want to let him ruin our lives more than he already has.
'The awful thing is our family's future with Peter was cruelly taken away.
'Today we instead focus on the three children we have left and our grandchildren.'
Mr and Mrs Falconio went on: 'We didn't have much faith, but we were hoping Bradley John Murdoch would reveal where Peter was before he died.
'But even now we still hold out hope that his remains will be found.
'Finally, we wish to express our profound thanks to the Northern Territory Police for the support and continuing efforts to investigate our son's murder.'
A spokesperson for the Northern Territory Department of Corrections said: 'The death will be subject to investigation by the Northern Territory Coroner.
'No further comment at this time.'
Northern Territory Police Force said Murdoch did not provide any fresh information about the location of Mr Falconio's body prior to his death.
In a statement the force said: 'The Northern Territory Police Force acknowledges the death of Bradley John Murdoch, the man convicted of the 2001 murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio near Barrow Creek.
'It is deeply regrettable that Murdoch has died without, as far as we are aware, ever disclosing the location of Peter Falconio's remains.
'His silence has denied the Falconio family the closure they have so long deserved.
'Our thoughts are with the Falconio family in the United Kingdom, whose grief continues.'
The statement continued: 'The Northern Territory Police Force remains committed to resolving this final piece of the investigation.
'We continue to appeal to anyone who may have information that could lead us to Peter Falconio's remains to come forward, no matter how small the detail may seem.
'A reward of up to 500,000 Australia dollars (£243,650) is available to anyone providing information that leads to the discovery of Peter Falconio's remains.'
Mr Falconio and Ms Lees had been driving near the tiny settlement of Barrow Creek, around 188 miles north of Alice Springs, when Murdoch pulled up beside them claiming to have seen sparks coming from their van.
He shot Mr Falconio in the head as he inspected the vehicle, before forcing Ms Lees into his vehicle and binding her wrists with cable ties.
She managed to escape, hiding in the Outback for hours before flagging down a passing truck.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Murdoch was likely to have disposed of the backpacker's body somewhere in the vast, remote expanse of desert between Alice Springs and Broome, covering more than 1,200 miles.
Peter Falconio and Joanne Lees (Alamy/PA)
Despite repeated searches, Mr Falconio's body has never been found.
Ms Lees, who returned to the UK, told Australian current affairs programme 60 Minutes in 2017 that she still wanted to 'bring him home'.
'Pete lost his life on that night, but I lost mine too,' she said at the time.
'I'll never be fully at peace if Pete's not found, but I accept that that is a possibility.'
Murdoch lodged several unsuccessful appeals over the years, with Australia's highest court refusing to hear his case in 2007.
Former Northern Territory police officer and lead investigator in the case Colleen Gwynne told ABC: 'You mourn Peter today because I guess with Bradley's refusal to co-operate with police and provide that information we needed to locate Peter's remains and that resulting in the prolonged agony of the Falconio family – it's a sad day for those reasons.
'I'm not surprised, just disappointed. I always said I don't think he'll ever speak to police.
'The night that Joanne escaped and we lost Peter, he lost control and as a result of that he felt wronged and angry.
'To gain some control was to never co-operate and have that power over the Falconio family.
'The family are aware that we've lost an enormous opportunity now and they will carry that with them every day.'
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I know my TV career's over & I fear for my financial future, says wallowing Gregg Wallace as he moans about BBC sacking
I know my TV career's over & I fear for my financial future, says wallowing Gregg Wallace as he moans about BBC sacking

The Sun

time17 minutes ago

  • The Sun

I know my TV career's over & I fear for my financial future, says wallowing Gregg Wallace as he moans about BBC sacking

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Sick moment Brit tourist is kicked in head ‘by gang trying to steal his phone' as cops arrest five 17-year-old boys
Sick moment Brit tourist is kicked in head ‘by gang trying to steal his phone' as cops arrest five 17-year-old boys

Scottish Sun

time2 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Sick moment Brit tourist is kicked in head ‘by gang trying to steal his phone' as cops arrest five 17-year-old boys

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THIS is the sick moment a Brit tourist was kicked in the head by a gang of teenagers during a horror robbery in Portugal. The Brit, 18, was left bloodied and unconscious during the assault after the yobs allegedly tried to steal his phone and cash before fleeing the scene. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 The Brit, 18, was left bloodied and unconscious during the assault Credit: Solarpix 4 The victim was seen lying defenceless on the ground after being attacked Credit: Solarpix 4 One of the suspected attackers who filmed the clip; five of them have been arrested Credit: Solarpix Footage filmed by the violent attackers shows the victim lying defenceless on the ground after being attacked. Portuguese police revealed today that the 18-year-old Brit had been robbed and hospitalised. The group is said to have stolen the victim's phone, worth around €600 (£525) Cops said five of the attackers - all aged 17 - have been arrested. Another four were identified by police. The violent crime occurred at the party resort of Albufeira. Two of the teenage suspects were filmed kicking their victim in the footage posted online. CCTV footage in the area where the assault took place is understood to have been key to the identification of those responsible. The unnamed victim is now back in the UK. Confirming the arrests, a spokesman for the GNR police force said: "The Faro Territorial Command arrested five 17-year-old men for robbery in the municipality of Albufeira. Shocking moment Brit influencer HSTikkyTokky batters reveller as massive brawl erupts in Magaluf "Following an investigation into a robbery involving violent assaults on an 18-year-old man, which took place on 17 July in the town of Albufeira. "The military police carried out police investigations that enabled them to identify and locate the suspects. 'During the police investigation, the GNR intercepted the five suspects and arrested them, also seizing five mobile phones. 'The detainees were due to appear on July 24 at the Portimao Judicial Court.' The teenagers, who live in Quarteira near Albufeira, are suspected of a number of other violent assaults on other young tourists. An active police investigation is ongoing. Local reports said they filmed the attacks and posted the footage on social media to brag about what they had done. Albufeira has come under the spotlight in recent weeks following the deaths of two British tourists in quick succession. On June 4, tragic Scots tourist Greg Monks was found dead near Albufeira after going missing a week earlier in the resort. The 38-year-old plant mechanic from Glasgow is believed to have lost his life after jumping over a wall and falling down a steep hillside during a night out with his stag do friends. Around four hours before Greg's body was found by police, another young Brit tourist was found dead behind a steep drop at the back of a residential block by Albufeira's Old Town. The 21-year-old is said to have gone out drinking with pals and is thought to have become disoriented as he tried to get back to his hotel. News of his death only emerged three days after Greg was found dead.

CNN interrupted for major breaking news which could have 'huge impact' on Donald Trump
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Daily Mirror

time4 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

CNN interrupted for major breaking news which could have 'huge impact' on Donald Trump

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