Man who killed British backpacker Peter Falconio in Australia dies

The killer of British backpacker Peter Falconio has died after being moved to palliative care last month.

Bradley John 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 Yorkshire, were travelling across the country in a camper van when they were ambushed by Murdoch on the Stuart Highway, an isolated road that runs through the centre of Australia.

Despite repeated searches, Mr Falconio’s body has never been found.

Falconio’s 83-year-old father spoke to News Corp Australia after learning of Murdoch’s death on the day after the anniversary of his son’s disappearance.

“I tell you what I think, I wish he (Murdoch) left something for me to find him,” Luciano Falconio told the news company from his home in the UK.

Murdoch was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for at least 28 years.

The 67-year-old 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.

A spokesperson said: “I can confirm that Bradley Murdoch passed away last night in the palliative care unit at Alice Springs Hospital.

“The death will be subject to investigation by the Northern Territory Coroner.

“No further comment at this time.”

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.

Bradley John Murdoch was convicted of murdering Pater Falconio in 2005. / Credit: AP

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.

Last month, police announced a new 500,000 Australian dollar (about £240,000) reward for information leading to the discovery of Mr Falconio’s remains.

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.”

“Police still hold out hope that someone may be able to provide some vital information to assist in this search,” Police Commander Mark Grieve commented.