Latest news with #Darwin
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Australian outback killer Bradley Murdoch never revealed where Peter Falconio's body was. Now he's taken his secret to the grave
The unofficial policy of the Northern Territory Department of Corrections was to 'destabilise' prisoner number 257128. For more than 20 years, Bradley John Murdoch was sent back and forth from the Alice Springs correctional centre, surrounded by outback red dirt and scrub, to the maximum security prison at Berrimah in Darwin's industrial outskirts. Murdoch, who was serving a life sentence for the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio, died in custody on Tuesday, aged 67. The 'outback killer', whose crimes partly inspired the horror film Wolf Creek, was convicted of murder by a jury in 2005. He maintained his innocence until his final breath. Falconio's body has never been found. The 1,500km prison transfer bus trip up the Sturt Highway between the Northern Territory's two maximum security prisons would have passed through Barrow Creek, the remote town with 11 inhabitants, where Murdoch ambushed the VW Kombi van of Falconio and his girlfriend, Joanne Lees, in July 2001. Most of the searches for Falconio's body have focused on the area that surrounds the town, but the outback is vast. The distance from the nearest towns – Alice Springs, in one direction, to Tenant Creek in the other – is more than 560km, the equivalent of a journey from London to Dusseldorf. Kate Vanderlaan, the retired former acting commissioner of the NT Police Force, was the head of the Alice Springs crime division in 2001 and recalls the days and weeks immediately after Falconio went missing. Lees told police she managed to escape and hide in the bush for hours while Murdoch searched for her, with the help of his dog, until she flagged down a truck driver and called for help. 'My most significant memory was that it was a very difficult investigation in the early days,' Vanderlaan said. 'It wasn't clear cut [at the outset] as to who did it, [and] there was significant media interest. 'I'd never dealt with such media scrutiny before. We had a description of the vehicle and the recollection [of Lees], but at the end of the day, it was starting from scratch because you don't know the motive … other than it was such a random thing. 'We got so much information, sometimes that was quite overwhelming – how to deal with it.' Vanderlaan recalls searching for Falconio's body in the first few weeks after he disappeared. 'The initial search was concentrated along the road or within a kilometre of the road. But it's vast, and the burial evidence would probably dissipate pretty quickly. They were pretty thorough in their searches, but it's like a needle in a haystack,' she said. 'We've had so many different suggestions and thoughts since, and they've all been followed up. It was always the case that if we had some leads, it was always followed up. We had the psychics and those people thinking they knew where the body was.' Murdoch was convicted by a jury in December 2005 and sentenced to life in prison, with a non-parole period of 28 years. In the time since, he has steadfastly maintained his innocence, including several unsuccessful attempts to appeal against his conviction. His family released a statement on Wednesday, acknowledging his death. 'To many, Bradley Murdoch is known only for the events that led to his conviction in 2005 for the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio, a crime for which he has always denied responsibility from his arrest until his death,' the statement said. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion 'But to those who truly knew him, he was much more than the headlines. When given the opportunity, Brad was a devoted father, father-in-law, and proud Poppy who never missed a chance to brag about his grandchildren. He was a beloved brother, uncle, and friend.' The family said Murdoch maintained his innocence until his death. 'We understand that the public perception of Bradley will always be shaped by his conviction, but our intention is simply to share the man we knew, the version of him that was rarely, if ever, seen beyond our family and close friends,' his family said. 'He was deeply loved. He will be deeply missed.' The statement said Murdoch had assisted First Nations prisoners, who had called him uncle. Such accounts are at odds with others that have emerged about Murdoch, including from within the prison system over the years. Murdoch spent 21 months in prison after he shot at a group of Aboriginal people who had been celebrating after an Australian rules football match in Western Australia in 1995. He was known to have a racist tattoo, depicting an Aboriginal man. Within the prison system, he was reported to have developed significant influence. The search for Falconio's remains has fascinated police, journalists and amateur sleuths for years. In 2014, Australian current affairs program Today Tonight claimed to have discovered a possible location for Falconio's body in a well at Neutral Junction, about a kilometre from the crime scene at Barrow Creek. It later emerged the segment had been filmed three years earlier. After decades of fruitless searches, the best hope remained the possibility, however remote, that Murdoch might confess and reveal where Falconio was buried. Sources familiar with the Northern Territory's dealings with Murdoch say they tried 'all manner of things' to elicit a confession. In 2016, the NT introduced 'no body, no parole' laws. There was only one prisoner in the Territory's jails who was affected. But Murdoch remained silent. He contracted throat cancer in 2019, and the possibility of parole would have seemed impossible. Last month, as the 67-year-old appeared close to death, Northern Territory police announced a new reward of $500,000 for information about Falconio's disappearance. Murdoch died in palliative care at the Alice Springs hospital. He took the secret – the best hope of finding Falconio – to his grave. 'Let's hope someone might come forward now that he's dead,' Vanderlaan said.
ABC News
9 hours ago
- General
- ABC News
Five changes domestic violence experts say could make the Northern Territory safer for women
The Northern Territory has the highest rates of family and domestic violence in Australia, with a rate of intimate partner homicide seven times the national average. With just a handful of DV shelters — including some that can turn away up to 200 women each month — the ABC asked experts in the sector how the territory could become a safer place for women, children and families. Those on the front line know there are no quick fixes, especially in a jurisdiction where cultural diversity, remoteness and significant disadvantage add to the challenges. But these experts have identified five key areas for change. Centralised intake. ( ABC News: Jess Henderson ) Ana Aitcheson, chief executive of Darwin shelter Dawn House, says when a woman is in crisis and looking for help, the onus is generally on her to find support. Ms Aitcheson says a centralised intake system could act as "one port of call" for those seeking support. She says a centralised centre, which could then direct women to appropriate organisations with availability, will help prevent victims from "[falling] through the gaps". Ms Aitcheson says that without it women are left on hold, bouncing around from service to service. "If a woman needs support and she calls us for example and we're at a capacity … we give her a phone number for another organisation. They're the same, another phone number, and that's just very time consuming," she said. Safe housing Safe housing icon. ( ABC News: Jess Henderson ) Holly Gurruwiwi, an advocate with lived experience of DV, says the territory needs more safe housing to help address family and domestic violence. The NT has the highest rates of overcrowding in Australia, with remote Aboriginal communities significantly impacted. These housing conditions have been found to increase family conflict and emotional and behavioural issues for young children. For many territory women who want to leave violent relationships, there's often nowhere to go. "There are people in communities who do know how to keep their family safe, but the option is between safety and homeless," Ms Gurruwiwi said. DV training DV training icon. ( ABC News: Jess Henderson ) Since leaving her own violent relationship in 2016, Ms Gurruwiwi has been using her experience to educate first responders about different kinds of violence through a culturally and trauma-informed lens. The PARt (prevent, assist, respond training) program, developed by Tangentyere Council Aboriginal Coproration, trains NT police recruits and some health workers. Ms Gurruwiwi and co-manager of Tangentyere's family safety and social services division, Maree Corbo, are calling for the program to be adopted more broadly. "Definitely security guards, because we know security guards are dealing with this day in and day out," Ms Gurruwiwi said. Ms Corbo says it's a matter of getting all different sectors like health, courts, police and corrections "speaking the same language" on domestic violence. Men's rehabilitation Men's rehabilitation icon. ( ABC News: Jess Henderson ) Ms Corbo says investing in more men's behaviour change programs should be a top priority for the NT government. As the manager of Tangentyere Council's men's behaviour change program in Alice Springs, Ms Corbo says these programs help keep perpetrators "in view" and educated on their use of violence and its impact. To reach men who aren't bailed and able to attend a rehabilitation program in their community, she says there should be more collaboration with correctional services. Ms Corbo says Tangentyere once ran a men's behaviour change program that followed men from prison to their release into the community, noting it's "one of the highest risk times" for recidivism. But resourcing challenges have prevented the organisation from continuing that model. Funding sustainability Funding sustainability icon. ( ABC News: Jess Henderson ) To make any meaningful change, all of the experts agreed that more timely, consistent and strategically-placed funding at both national and territory levels was key. Ms Aitcheson says whenever there's a change in government, the sector goes "right back to the consult stage". She wants to see changes implemented and funded as soon as possible. Ms Gurruwiwi wants the federal government to take "a greater seat at the table" when it comes to funding programs in a jurisdiction with the country's highest rates of domestic violence. The NT government has committed $36 million of ongoing annual funding to the sector, which started rolling out this year. Ms Corbo says that could lead to some light at the end of the tunnel. "It's really important having five-year funding, [so] we know what we're dealing with, we know who we can employ, what we're doing with it and how we can improve the programs," she said. Advocates like Holly Gurruwiwi are still calling on the NT government to accept the recommendations and "implement them all entirely".
News.com.au
12 hours ago
- Business
- News.com.au
NT Government employment platform WorkerConnect working wonders
An innovative Northern Territory Government employment platform is working wonders. WorkerConnect is tackling the NT's labour shortage by helping employers and jobseekers. The easy-to-use platform is not only making it easier for Territorians to fill jobs but is also enticing many people from interstate and overseas to move to the Territory. WorkerConnect is free to use – businesses can post job ads and find suitable candidates, and jobseekers can check job vacancies and upload their CVs. One of the many enterprises using WorkerConnect is the Nightcliff Sports Club in Darwin's northern suburbs. Manager Paul McGuire, who moved to Darwin from the Gold Coast with his wife Angela earlier this year and immediately bought a house, heard about the digital platform through discussions with the NT Government and through the Designated Area Migration Agreement, NT DAMA. 'WorkerConnect was so easy to use,' he says. 'It's tailored for NT employers looking to fill skill shortages, especially in regional areas. It's great to see candidates who are genuinely interested in living and working in the NT.' The sports club has hired three overseas team members, Parakorn Kunarak from Thailand, Jane Rinelke from Indonesia and Huizhong 'Jo' Ku from China. 'It was a smooth process,' says Paul. 'They have settled in well and become valuable members of our team.' Traffic management company, Trafficwerx NT is another Territory business benefiting from the WorkerConnect platform. Trafficwerx NT has a dedicated team of traffic controllers available 24 hours a day 365 days a year but are always on the lookout for new team members. The WorkerConnect has helped the company find new workers at short notice. Trafficwerx NT media liaison officer, Jen Fellows said 'WorkerConnect a great way to connect with local talent and promote opportunities across a range of industries'. 'We have used WorkerConnect to post job vacancies, explore candidate profiles and share what qualifications are needed to start working in our industry. 'The AirCV and alerts features are handy for streamlining recruitment. It is also great that we can post jobs on the platform for free. 'I absolutely recommended other businesses to utilise WorkerConnect.' The Northern Territory Government and industry representatives are heading to New Zealand to encourage jobseekers to make the move, and work and live in the Territory. The team will deliver a worker attraction seminar in Christchurch on 23 July and a NT Jobs Expo in Auckland on 26 and 27 July. vacancies can be discovered by jobseekers.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Darwin Nunez transfer gets green light from manager as Liverpool receive bid
Liverpool are expected to part ways with Darwin Nunez this summer with a number of clubs interested in signing the forward but the Reds may need to accept a loss Darwin Nunez is drawing keen interest and Liverpool have received a £52million bid from AC Milan, it's claimed. But the Reds have also received an approach from the Saudi Pro League for the forward who has scored 25 goals and recorded 16 assists in 95 Premier League appearances. Al Hilal are ready to turn towards the Uruguay international if their move to land Victor Osimhen fails this summer. New boss Simeone Inzaghi is said to have pushed his club to move for the ex-Benfica star, should a move for the Nigerian fail per reports in Riyadh. The Saudi Pro League side, who have already signed Theo Hernandez from Milan this summer, renewed their negotiations with Osimhen after seeing their first proposal rejected. Al Hilal managed to come to preliminary terms with Napoli before the Club World Cup. Osimhen rejected a deal worth €40m (£34.8m) annually on that occasion however. And that has left a move for Darwin, who looks set to depart Anfield, on the table. The Reds are said to be willing to accept a loss on their striker to allow him to leave for £70m - after signing him for £85m in 2022. READ MORE: Arne Slot could save Liverpool millions with 'top player' who left John Terry distraught It could be Italian side Napoli who yet offer the stiffest competition to Al Hilal for Darwin's signature. Antonio Conte's team have been persistently linked with the South American star. But reports in Saudi state that it's the Rossoneri who have made the latest offer to Liverpool. The forward, 26, scored in Liverpool's return to pre-season action against Preston. Darwin capitalised on an error from the opposition backline before firing past the goalkeeper as Arne Slot's team recorded a 3-1 win. Liverpool have been linked with a number of potential replacement's for the striker. The latest has seen the suggestion that discussions are underway over a possible transfer for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta. The Frenchman's representatives have reportedly met with Liverpool chiefs in Paris. Mateta scored 14 goals for the Eagleas last season as the club found FA Cup success last season, Mateta has two years left on his contract and has previously been linked with a move to Manchester United. Amid speculation surrounding the Red Devils a fee in the region oof £40m to £50m was touted. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Hulu drops first trailer for 'The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball' reboot after 6-year hiatus
After six years off air, The Amazing World of Gumball returns with a new title, The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball. Hulu has released the first official trailer, offering a chaotic preview filled with visual experimentation and offbeat comedy. The trailer begins with Gumball declaring he was never gone—just preparing something bigger. It features meta-humour, wild 2D and 3D animation blends, and scenes involving virtual reality, animated burgers, and tentacles emerging from other dimensions. Gumball and Darwin reintroduce themselves to schoolmates like mythic figures, launching into scenes involving a haunted car, a living Necronomicon, and what appears to be a heart mascot under attack. The Watterson family will also face off against a sinister fast food empire and an AI obsessed with their mother, all rendered through a mix of CGI, puppetry, stop-motion, and live action. The reboot features new voice actors for Gumball, Darwin, and Anais—Alkaio Thiele, Hero Hunter, and Kinza Syed Khan—while original voices Teresa Gallagher and Dan Russell return as Nicole and Richard. Series creator Ben Bocquelet returns as executive producer alongside Matt Layzell and Erik Fountain. The creative team promises surreal 15-minute episodes packed with layered humour and unpredictable storylines. Fans can catch the SDCC panel on July 26 at the San Diego Convention Center, with the show premiering on Hulu in the US on July 28.
