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The Star
5 days ago
- The Star
Death of Australia's 'Outback Killer' leaves whereabouts of British backpacker's body unknown
MELBOURNE: Police fear Bradley John Murdoch, known as the "Outback Killer,' has taken to his grave the secret of how he disposed of the body of British backpacker Peter Falconio who was murdered in arid central Australia 24 years ago. Murdoch died Tuesday (July 15) night, aged 67, in the palliative care unit of the Alice Springs Hospital, officials said Wednesday. He was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer in 2019 and was recently transferred to the hospital from the Alice Springs prison. His death leaves the mystery of the whereabouts of Falconio's body unsolved. The Northern Territory Police Force said investigators remain "committed to resolving this final piece of the investigation.' "It is deeply regrettable that Murdoch has died without, as far as we are aware, ever disclosing the location of Peter Falconio's remains," a police statement said. "His silence has denied the Falconio family the closure they have so long deserved." The victim's 83-year-old father, Luciano Falconio, was visibly shocked and lost for words after learning of Murdoch's death a day after the anniversary of his son's disappearance, News Corp Australia reported. "I tell you what I think, I wish he (Murdoch) left something for me to find him,' the father told the news company from his home in the UK. Bradley John Murdoch being led through the compound at the Adelaide Magistrates court on Nov. 13, 2003. - AP In 2005, Murdoch was convicted of the 2001 murder of 28-year-old Falconio, from Huddersfield in England's Yorkshire region, and the attempted kidnapping of Falconio's girlfriend Joanne Lees. The crime captured global attention and was one of the inspirations for the 2005 Australian horror movie "Wolf Creek,' about a serial killer who preyed on backpackers and left a single witness who became a suspect. Lees, who wrote about her ordeal in her 2006 memoir "No Turning Back,' complained that police treated her as a suspect in the years before Murdoch was charged. A court order prevented the movie's release in the Northern Territory during Murdoch's trial, fearing it could influence jurors. Murdoch was not accused of any other killings. Murdoch consistently maintained his innocence and did not help authorities search for Falconio's remains. At the time of the killing, Murdoch was an interstate drug runner, using amphetamines to stay awake for dayslong drives and cannabis to sleep. On the night of July 14, 2001, he tricked Falconio and Lees into stopping their campervan on a dark and remote highway north of Alice Springs. Lees watched her boyfriend leave the van to inspect a supposedly sparking exhaust pipe. She testified that she heard a gunshot and never saw her boyfriend again. Murdoch, an imposing 193cm (6 foot, 4 inches) in height, bound her wrists with cable ties before she managed to escape and hid in the desert scrub for hours. She testified she watched Murdoch searching for her with a flashlight and his dog. Lees later waved down a truck and raised the alarm. Last month, police doubled the reward for information leading to the location of Falconio's remains to A$500,000 (US$330,000), following news that Murdoch was in palliative care. "Police still hold out hope that someone may be able to provide some vital information to assist in this search,' Police Commander Mark Grieve said. Colleen Gwynne, a former police officer who led the investigation at the time of Falconio's disappearance, said Murdoch might have panicked after Lees escaped and in his confusion forgot what he did with the body. "Once that panic set in … he may have disposed of a body somewhere he's not entirely certain where that is,' Gwynne said earlier this month. Murdoch was sentenced to life in prison for Falconio's murder and was ordered to serve at least 28 years before he could be considered for parole. He was also sentenced to six years for assaulting Lees. The earliest he could have applied for parole would have been 2032, but without providing information as to what he had done with Falconio's body, Murdoch was not likely to have been released. The territory passed laws in 2016 preventing prisoners convicted of murder from qualifying for parole unless they provide police with the location of their victims' bodies. Murdoch was born in the west coast town of Geraldton, the third child of an automobile mechanic and his wife, a hairdresser. As a teen, he became involved in biker gang crime and was first sentenced to prison in 1995 for shooting at a group of Indigenous people at Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia. He served 15 months of a 21-month sentence. In sentencing Murdoch for Falconio's killing, Chief Justice Brian Martin said he doubted any words could express the trauma and terror Lees had suffered. "It must have been close to the worst nightmare imaginable,' the judge said. - AP
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Police receive tip-offs on Peter Falconio's remains after killer's death
Australian Police said they could 'confirm' they had received new 'information' and they were checking it out, 24 years after the 28-year-old Brit was brutally killed in the outback Police in Australia have revealed they've received detailed tip-offs on the whereabouts of the remains of murdered British backpacker Peter Falconio. Police offered a new huge £240,000 reward just before Peter's murderer died of throat cancer this week. The death of Bradley John Murdoch could finally open the doors for Peter's final resting place to be revealed. Police said they could 'confirm' they had received new 'information' and they were checking it out. Experts said that they were hopeful Peter's remains would be found 24 years after he was killed in the Australian outback. Criminologist Xanthe Mallett said 'a lot can have changed' in almost a quarter of a century, and "people may now be able to speak that couldn't at the time". She said: 'There's always the chance that Bradley Murdoch would have shared some information, and people wouldn't have been able to share that until he's dead, so this may be an opportunity. I'm hoping that people out there do know something." Dr Mallett, from the Central Queensland University ,said DNA could "remain active for decades" depending on "exactly how they've been left", making it possible to identify Mr Falconio if a new lead were to reveal his final resting place. She said: 'If human remains are found in the bush … whomever they are, if they're human remains, it's likely that they will be able to get DNA from them, either from the bones or from the teeth. "So if that person's DNA is on record, as I'm sure Peter's would be, then you could do a match to those remains. It's finding those remains in the first place that is going to be the key challenge." The Northern Territory Police said it 'remains committed' to solving the cold case. In a statement acknowledging Murdoch's death, the Northern Territory Police Force said it was "deeply regrettable that Murdoch has died without, as far as we are aware, ever disclosing the location of Peter Falconio's remains. 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." Last month NT Police announced a $500,000 (£240,000) reward for information leading to the discovery of Mr Falconio's remains, saying investigators still "hold out hope" of finding his body. "There may be someone out there that he's confided in - whether that's family and friends - we just don't know," Acting Commander Mark Grieve said in June. "It's a good opportunity for us to up the ante in regards to the reward. We think there's still people out there that may hold some information." A NT Police spokesperson said investigators were yet to verify tips they had received since increasing the reward. He said: 'The Northern Territory Police Force can confirm it has received information since the announcement of the reward; however, the information is yet to be verified," he said. Falconio's parents Luciano and Joan have said 'still hold out hope'. In a statement to they said: "We didn't have much faith, but we were hoping Bradley John Murdoch would reveal where Peter was before he died," they said. "Even now we still hold out hope that his remains will be found." Upon hearing the news of Murdoch's death, Falconio's parents said their "first feeling was of relief". It's like a weight that's been lifted," they said. "We are only forced to think about [Murdoch] 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." The family also expressed their "profound thanks" to the Northern Territory Police "for the support and continuing efforts to investigate our son's murder". During Murdoch's sentencing in 2005, Chief Justice Brian Martin said the killer put Mr Falconio's body into his vehicle before dumping it somewhere between Alice Springs and Broome - a distance spanning over 1000 miles.
Rhyl Journal
6 days ago
- Rhyl Journal
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. 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.'
South Wales Guardian
6 days ago
- South Wales Guardian
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. 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.'
Leader Live
6 days ago
- Leader Live
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. 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.'
