Key Points
- Bradley Murdoch killed British backpacker Peter Falconio in the Northern Territory in 2001.
- Murdoch was convicted of his murder, along with assaulting Falconio's girlfriend, Joanne Lees, in 2005.
- Murdoch is believed to have hidden Falconio's body, which has never been found despite extensive searches.
Hopes that a notorious backpacker killer would reveal where he put the remains of a man he killed in the Australian outback have been dashed.
Bradley John Murdoch, 67, died of throat cancer on Tuesday after being moved from jail in June to a hospital in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, according to multiple media reports.
In 2005, Murdoch was given a life sentence for the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio, 28, and the assault and attempted kidnapping of Falconio's girlfriend Joanne Lees on the Stuart Highway near Barrow Creek in the NT in July 2001.
Falconio was driving along the Stuart Highway with Lees when Murdoch drove up behind them and indicated they should pull over, saying their van might have an engine problem.
Falconio went behind the car with him to investigate, and Lees heard a gunshot. Murdoch grabbed her, cable-tied her and covered her head.
Peter Falconio (right) was murdered by Bradley Murdoch in 2001. Murdoch assaulted and attempted to kidnap Falconio's girlfriend Joanne Lees (left), who hid in bushland for five hours before she managed to flag down a truck driver. Source: AAP / PA/Alamy
Murdoch is believed to have hidden Falconio's body, which has never been found despite extensive searches.
He was arrested in November 2003 over Falconio's disappearance, after a jury in South Australia acquitted him of raping and falsely imprisoning a 12-year-old girl.
The SA case allowed NT Police to obtain his DNA, which was later found on the make-shift handcuffs worn by Lees, as well as on her T-shirt, leading to his arrest.
But even with a life sentence, and the NT passing "no body, no parole" laws in 2016, that would result in Murdoch spending the rest of his days behind bars, he never revealed the site of the remains.
'Deeply regrettable' that Murdoch died without revealing remains site
In June, NT Police announced a $500,000 reward for information leading to the discovery of Falconio's remains.
Murdoch was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2019.
In a statement, the NT Police said it was "deeply regrettable" that Murdoch had died without disclosing the location of Falconio's remains.
"His silence has denied the Falconio family the closure they have so long deserved," the statement continued.
"Our thoughts are with the Falconio family in the United Kingdom, whose grief continues. 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."
NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said in a statement on Wednesday after Murdoch's death that it was "disappointing for the Falconio family that this case remains unresolved and they are still without the closure they deserve".
Falconio family speaks after Murdoch's death
Falconio's parents Luciano and Joan said their "first feeling was of relief" upon hearing of Murdoch's death.
"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 to ruin our lives more than he already has.
"The awful thing is our family’s future with Peter was cruelly taken away."
Falconio's parents said they "didn't have much faith" that Murdoch would reveal where he hid Peter's remains.
"But even now we still hold out hope that his remains will be found," they said.
