Latest news with #BradleyJohnMurdoch
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Peter Falconio: Police offer huge reward in bid to finally solve Australia murder mystery
Australian police have announced a new reward in the enduring mystery surrounding the disappearance of British backpacker Peter Falconio, whose remains have never been found despite his killer being jailed over two decades ago. A reward of $500,000 (£238,670) is now being offered for information leading to the discovery of Mr Falconio's body. Bradley John Murdoch is currently serving a life sentence for the murder of the West Yorkshire man and the assault of his girlfriend, Joanne Lees, on a remote stretch of the Stuart Highway in Australia's Northern Territory in 2001. Mr Falconio and Ms Lees, both from Yorkshire, were on a backpacking trip across Australia in a camper van when they were ambushed by Murdoch on the isolated Stuart Highway, a major road traversing the centre of the country. Murdoch was convicted in 2005 and sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum non-parole period of 28 years. Despite his conviction, Murdoch has consistently refused to disclose the location of Mr Falconio's remains, leaving a painful void for his family and friends and perpetuating one of Australia's most enduring unsolved mysteries. The new reward aims to finally bring closure to the case. Acting Northern Territory Police commander Mark Grieve said police 'still hold out hope' someone may hold 'vital information' to aid in the search. 'In what will be the 24th anniversary of (Falconio's) death this July, being next month, we're asking for anyone who may believe they have information that can assist to please come forward and contact police,' he told media in Darwin. 'It's never too late to reach out, and at least start that conversation with police, because you just never know how beneficial that information that you may hold may be. 'We recognise the passage of time that's transpired, however, it's never too late to reach out and start that conversation with police.' Murdoch, 67, was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer in 2019 and was moved to palliative care from Alice Springs Correctional Centre earlier this month, according to local media reports. 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 the Kombi van. He then 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 a daring escape, hiding in the outback scrub for hours before flagging down a passing truck. During the trial, prosecutors argued that Murdoch had likely 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. Despite repeated searches, Mr Falconio's body has never been found. His killer has always maintained his innocence. Ms Lees, who has since returned to the UK, told Australian current affairs programme 60 Minutes in 2017 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. He was not eligible for parole until 2033, but would have remained behind bars under 'no body, no parole' laws preventing him from being released if he refused to disclose Mr Falconio's whereabouts.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Police in desperate search for body of missing Brit killed in Australia 24 years ago
Australian Police have announced a new reward of $500,000 for information leading to the discovery of British backpacker Peter Falconio's remains. Falconio disappeared in 2001 on a remote stretch of the Stuart Highway in Australia 's Northern Territory, and his Body has never been found. Bradley John Murdoch is serving a life sentence for Falconio's murder and the assault of his girlfriend, Joanne Lees, who managed to escape the attack. Murdoch, who maintains his innocence, has consistently refused to disclose the location of Falconio's Body, despite being diagnosed with terminal throat cancer and moved to palliative care. The new reward aims to bring closure to the enduring mystery, with Police urging anyone with information to come forward, regardless of the time passed.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Australian police offer new reward in bid to find Peter Falconio's body
Australian police have announced a new 500,000 Australian dollar (£238,670) reward for information that leads to the discovery of British backpacker Peter Falconio's remains. Bradley John Murdoch is serving a life sentence for killing the West Yorkshire man and attacking his girlfriend, Joanne Lees, on a remote highway in the Northern Territory in 2001. Mr Falconio and Ms Lees, both from Yorkshire, were backpacking across the country in a camper van when they were ambushed down by Murdoch on the Stuart Highway, an isolated road that runs through the centre of Australia. Murdoch was convicted in 2005 and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for at least 28 years. He has never revealed the location of Mr Falconio's body. Acting Northern Territory Police commander Mark Grieve said police 'still hold out hope' someone may hold 'vital information' to aid in the search. 'In what will be the 24th anniversary of (Falconio's) death this July, being next month, we're asking for anyone who may believe they have information that can assist to please come forward and contact police,' he told media in Darwin. 'It's never too late to reach out, and at least start that conversation with police, because you just never know how beneficial that information that you may hold may be. 'We recognise the passage of time that's transpired, however, it's never too late to reach out and start that conversation with police.' Murdoch, 67, was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer in 2019 and was moved to palliative care from Alice Springs Correctional Centre earlier this month, according to local media reports. 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 the Kombi van. He then 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 a daring escape, hiding in the outback scrub for hours before flagging down a passing truck. During the trial, prosecutors argued that Murdoch had likely 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. Despite repeated searches, Mr Falconio's body has never been found. His killer has always maintained his innocence. Ms Lees, who has since returned to the UK, told Australian current affairs programme 60 Minutes in 2017 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. He was not eligible for parole until 2033, but would have remained behind bars under 'no body, no parole' laws preventing him from being released if he refused to disclose Mr Falconio's whereabouts.
The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
Australian police offer new reward in bid to find Peter Falconio's body
Australian police have announced a new 500,000 Australian dollar (£238,670) reward for information that leads to the discovery of British backpacker Peter Falconio's remains. Bradley John Murdoch is serving a life sentence for killing the West Yorkshire man and attacking his girlfriend, Joanne Lees, on a remote highway in the Northern Territory in 2001. Mr Falconio and Ms Lees, both from Yorkshire, were backpacking across the country in a camper van when they were ambushed down by Murdoch on the Stuart Highway, an isolated road that runs through the centre of Australia. Murdoch was convicted in 2005 and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for at least 28 years. He has never revealed the location of Mr Falconio's body. Acting Northern Territory Police commander Mark Grieve said police 'still hold out hope' someone may hold 'vital information' to aid in the search. 'In what will be the 24th anniversary of (Falconio's) death this July, being next month, we're asking for anyone who may believe they have information that can assist to please come forward and contact police,' he told media in Darwin. 'It's never too late to reach out, and at least start that conversation with police, because you just never know how beneficial that information that you may hold may be. 'We recognise the passage of time that's transpired, however, it's never too late to reach out and start that conversation with police.' Murdoch, 67, was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer in 2019 and was moved to palliative care from Alice Springs Correctional Centre earlier this month, according to local media reports. 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 the Kombi van. He then 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 a daring escape, hiding in the outback scrub for hours before flagging down a passing truck. During the trial, prosecutors argued that Murdoch had likely 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. Despite repeated searches, Mr Falconio's body has never been found. His killer has always maintained his innocence. Ms Lees, who has since returned to the UK, told Australian current affairs programme 60 Minutes in 2017 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. He was not eligible for parole until 2033, but would have remained behind bars under 'no body, no parole' laws preventing him from being released if he refused to disclose Mr Falconio's whereabouts.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Australian police offer new reward in bid to find Peter Falconio's body
Australian police have announced a new 500,000 Australian dollar (£238,670) reward for information that leads to the discovery of British backpacker Peter Falconio's remains. Bradley John Murdoch is serving a life sentence for killing the West Yorkshire man and attacking his girlfriend, Joanne Lees, on a remote highway in the Northern Territory in 2001. Mr Falconio and Ms Lees, both from Yorkshire, were backpacking across the country in a camper van when they were ambushed down by Murdoch on the Stuart Highway, an isolated road that runs through the centre of Australia. Murdoch was convicted in 2005 and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for at least 28 years. He has never revealed the location of Mr Falconio's body. Acting Northern Territory Police commander Mark Grieve said police 'still hold out hope' someone may hold 'vital information' to aid in the search. 'In what will be the 24th anniversary of (Falconio's) death this July, being next month, we're asking for anyone who may believe they have information that can assist to please come forward and contact police,' he told media in Darwin. 'It's never too late to reach out, and at least start that conversation with police, because you just never know how beneficial that information that you may hold may be. 'We recognise the passage of time that's transpired, however, it's never too late to reach out and start that conversation with police.' Murdoch, 67, was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer in 2019 and was moved to palliative care from Alice Springs Correctional Centre earlier this month, according to local media reports. 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 the Kombi van. He then 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 a daring escape, hiding in the outback scrub for hours before flagging down a passing truck. During the trial, prosecutors argued that Murdoch had likely 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. Despite repeated searches, Mr Falconio's body has never been found. His killer has always maintained his innocence. Ms Lees, who has since returned to the UK, told Australian current affairs programme 60 Minutes in 2017 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. He was not eligible for parole until 2033, but would have remained behind bars under 'no body, no parole' laws preventing him from being released if he refused to disclose Mr Falconio's whereabouts.
