Bradley John Murdoch, the man convicted of murdering British backpacker Peter Falconio in the Australian Outback, died last June without revealing where he hid the body. In a final act of defiance, he shouted at police to “get out” when they visited him in palliative care six days before his death from throat cancer.
New Images Released to Mark 25 Years
Northern Territory Police released previously unseen photographs this week to mark 25 years since the murder. The images include a menacing mugshot of Murdoch, a blood-spattered Joanne Lees, and the orange Volkswagen Kombi camper van the couple were travelling in when attacked on July 14, 2001, near Barrow Creek.
Peter Falconio, 28, from Hepworth, West Yorkshire, was shot and his body has never been found. His girlfriend Joanne Lees, then 27, escaped by hiding in scrubland for hours with her wrists bound by cable ties before flagging down a truck.
Murdoch's Silence and Police Appeal
Northern Territory Police Force Commissioner Martin Dole said: “This was a traumatic and horrific event for Ms Lees, and for Peter’s family, who have now gone such a long time without the answers they deserve. It is deeply regrettable that Murdoch died without, as far as we know, ever disclosing the location of Peter’s remains. His cowardly silence has denied his family, friends and loved ones the closure they deserve.”
A reward of up to $500,000 (£260,000) is offered for information leading to the discovery of Peter’s remains.
Murdoch's Final Act of Defiance
Retired police superintendent Colleen Gwynne, the senior investigating officer, said: “Right to the end he was desperate to maintain control. It was like he was saying, ‘OK, you've got me but this is the one thing you can never get from me. I'm going to keep it.’ It made him feel powerful.”
Gwynne believes Murdoch may have become obsessed with Joanne after spotting her in Alice Springs, and the attack date—his wedding anniversary—could have triggered anger towards women.
Victim's Family Still Holds Out Hope
Peter’s parents, Joan and Luciano Falconio, now 79 and 85, said Murdoch’s death brought “one of relief” but they still hope his remains will be found. In a statement, they said: “We haven't found Peter's body, so there is no moving on. There can never be closure unless we find him.”
Joanne Lees, now 52 and a social worker in Huddersfield, said in a 2017 interview: “Pete lost his life on that night but I lost mine too. I'll never be fully at peace if Pete's not found, but I accept that that is a possibility.”
The Night of the Attack
Peter and Joanne were driving the Stuart Highway when Murdoch flagged them down, claiming sparks came from their exhaust. While he and Peter inspected the van, a gunshot rang out. Murdoch then tied Joanne's hands, but she escaped into the desert. After five hours, she flagged down a truck at 1am.
Police found the campervan 100 metres off the highway but no trace of Peter. Murdoch was captured on CCTV at a truck stop hours later, then drove over 1,000 miles to Broome. He was caught two years later after DNA evidence matched blood on Joanne's t-shirt. At trial, a forensic scientist said the blood smear was “at least 150 quadrillion times” more likely to be from Murdoch than anyone else.
Murdoch was sentenced to life without parole in 2005. The case inspired the 2005 horror film Wolf Creek.
