Outback killer set to stonewall cops and take key puzzle piece to his grave
The lead investigator in the Peter Falconio murder case hopes the British tourist's remains will be found but says there is little chance outback killer Bradley John Murdoch will point authorities to his grave — even from his death bed.
Murdoch, 67, was jailed for life over the 2001 roadside execution of Falconio and the assault and attempted kidnapping of the backpacker's girlfriend, Joanne Lees, on the Stuart Hwy north of Alice Springs.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Police make desperate last effort to find remains of Peter Falconio.
It was revealed this week that the convicted killer was close to death and had been moved to palliative care, with detectives now in a race to get a confession from a man who has always maintained his innocence.
On Wednesday, amid news Murdoch may only have days to live, Northern Territory police doubled their reward to $500,000 for information that could finally conclude the outback search for a body.
Colleen Gwynne — known for her work in the arrest and conviction of Murdoch — said she wanted to see a resolution for the Falconio family 'who really have been through years of distress'.
'I think the fact the reward has come out is a great idea and it shows the Northern Territory see this still as a significant gap here,' Gwynne told 7NEWS.
'We achieved a conviction but we still haven't been able to find Peter and from a law enforcement point of view that's still an important part of this.
'It's good to see the NT police have taken this tack. It's important and it's important to the family.' Peter Falconio was travelling in the NT with girlfriend Joanne Lees when he was murdered. Credit: AAP Bradley John Murdoch was convicted of Falconio's murder. Credit: AAP Despite extensive outback searches, Falconio's body has not been found. Credit: 7NEWS
Gwynne said authorities had made many attempts to secure key information from Murdoch, and even 'enticed him' with the opportunity to move to his native Western Australia to serve out his sentence.
'That's still didn't change his willingness to assist us,' Gwynne said.
The former chief investigator said it would not be in Murdoch's character to suddenly have a change of heart.
'I think for Bradley Murdoch, he's maintained his innocence. He's never said to anyone that he's guilty of this,' Gwynne told 7NEWS.
'I think for him it's a part of his control that he will never disclose — he will take it with him. It's unfortunate for the family that's what he's chosen to do.'
Police, too, said they had made a number of approaches to Murdoch about Falconio's remains.
'On all occasions he's chosen not to positively engage with police,' Northern Territory Police acting commander Mark Grieve said on Wednesday. Colleen Gwynne doubts Murdoch will assist police, even from his death bed. Credit: 7NEWS Peter Falconio and Joanne Lees were on an Australian holiday when they were stopped by Murdoch in 2001. Credit: 7NEWS
Murdoch had driven up behind the couple, urging them to pull over near the remote town of Barrow Creek because their camper van had mechanical issues.
After shooting Falconio, he cable-tied Lees and covered her head.
She managed to escape, hiding in bushland for several hours while Murdoch hunted her with his dog before she was able to flag down a truck driver.
Murdoch is believed to have hidden Falconio's body but massive searches have failed to find it.
'We recognise the passage of time that's transpired, however it's never too late to reach out and start that conversation with police,' Grieve said in a renewed public appeal.
'There may be someone out there he's confided in. Whether or not that's family or friends, we just don't know.' A Kombi belonging to English backpacker Peter Falconio, in the carpark of the Supreme Court in Darwin in 2005. Credit: David Geraghty / AAP Northern Territory Police acting commander Mark Grieve said Murdoch has chosen 'not to positively engage with police'. Credit: 7NEWS
Gwynne took over the case when it was just months old and said it quickly became a big part of her life.
'It was four years of our life really from start to finish and I think you do have many days where you sit back and you think about ... different stages of the investigation,' she said.
'I often wonder how the Falconios are and how their lives are without their son.
'It's a significant part of a lot of people's lives. There was a lot of people involved in that investigation.'
Grieve said police wanted to 'try and at least bring some sliver of resolution' to the Falconio family and his loved ones, who have been informed about the new reward.
Murdoch was given a life sentence in 2005 with a non-parole period of 28 years.
The NT introduced a 'no body, no parole' law in 2016, preventing people convicted of murder from being able to qualify for parole unless they give up the location of the victim's remains.
Murdoch would have been eligible for parole in 2032.
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