‘Outback killer' to make ‘explosive' deathbed declaration after murder of Brit Peter Falconio whose body was never found

The Sun

6 hours ago

THE notorious "Outback killer" is set to make an "explosive" final statement on his deathbed.
Bradley John Murdoch was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer in 2019, almost two decades after he murdered British backpacker Peter Falconio.
5
5
Peter, 28, and girlfriend Joanne Lees were on a road trip through the Australian Outback in 2001 when they were flagged down by a man in a truck and attacked.
Murdoch shot Peter in the head before attacking Joanne and restraining her with cable ties in his car.
Joanne managed to escape and hide in nearby bushes for five hours, before waving down a passing truck for help.
Now, as Murdoch nears death, true crime author Robin Bowles, who sat down with the killer a few years ago, has revealed what she believes his final few words will be.
She told 7NEWS: 'I know what they are, and they will be explosive.
'It's a shame they weren't able to be released earlier.."
While Murdoch has always maintained his innocence, Bowles said: 'You can't sue a dead man, so if he's making the claims, and he's died - the proverbial might hit the fan.'
This comes as cops have hiked their efforts to locate the tourist's remains which have yet to be found.
Northern Territory police announced they would now offer $500,000 Australian dollars (£240,000) to anyone who comes forward with information that leads them to his body.
'Killer' told man he 'tortured to death he was going to s**g his ex'
That's double the initial $250,000 (£120,000) offering.
Acting Commander Mark Grieve said: "We recognise the passage of time that's transpired, however it's never too late to reach out and start that conversation with police.
"There's still people out there who may hold some information.
"This has been a protracted and long investigation in regards to trying to find Peter's remains and now is just the right time we feel to present this reward on offer."
Who is Bradley John Murdoch?
Bradley John Murdoch was convicted of killing British backpacker Peter Falconio in 2001 and is serving a life sentence for the crime.
Police were never able to locate Falconio's body.
Reports surfaced that bones were found near Alice Springs in February 2023, and that police were going to test them to see if they were a match for the murdered backpacker.
Northern Territory police were quick to dismiss the claims as incorrect.
Bradley was born on February 29, 1958, in Geraldton, Western Australia, to a mechanic and a hairdresser.
He lived in Northampton and then Perth - where he reportedly joined a biker gang after dropping out of school aged 15.
He was a drug smuggler who served 15 months for shooting at crowds celebrating at an Australian rules football match in 1995.
Eight years later, just before he was charged with Peter's murder, he was charged with seven counts of abduction and rape, but later acquitted.
He has always protested his innocence in the murder case.
What happened to Bradley John Murdoch?
Sixteen months after the incident, Murdoch was arrested and charged with Peter's murder thanks to Joanne's identification combined with DNA evidence.
Murdoch pleaded not guilty to Peter's murder and to assaulting and attempting to kidnap Joanne.
But he was unanimously convicted in 2005 and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Murdoch launched several failed appeals against his conviction.
5
5