Outback killer Bradley John Murdoch dead at 67
The man convicted of murdering British backpacker Peter Falconio in the Northern Territory in 2001 has died.
Bradley John Murdoch, who was serving a life sentence for the backpacker's murder in 2001, was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer in 2019.
Outback killer Bradley John Murdoch has died, aged 67. AFP PHOTO/David HANCOCK
He was transferred from the Alice Springs Correctional Centre to palliative care earlier this year.
He died overnight at Alice Springs Hospital, aged 67.
Murdoch was convicted of killing the British backpacker on July 14, 2001.
Falconio was travelling with his girlfriend Joanne Lees in a Kombi van along the Sturt Highway, north of Barrow Creek between Darwin and Alice Springs, when another car stopped alongside them and motioned to them to pull over.
When the Kombi van pulled over, Murdoch shot Falconio in the head.
Murdoch then tried to kidnap Ms Lees, pulling her out of the van and binding her wrists with cable ties before forcing her in the back of his vehicle.
While Murdoch went back to his vehicle, Ms Lees managed to escape and hid in the bushes for several hours before she flagged down another driver.
Mr Falconio's body has never been found.
British backpacker Peter Falconio and his girlfriend Joanne Lees.
Murdoch was found guilty of murder in December 2005, and was sentenced to life in jail with a non-parole period of 28 years.
He maintained his innocence throughout the trial and tried to overturn the convictions on two occasions, but both were unsuccessful.
Murdoch would have been eligible for parole in 2032, but the NT's introduction of 'no body, no parole' laws in 2016 meant he would only have been released if he revealed the location of Mr Falconio's body.
Last month, the NT Police Force (NTPF) announced a renewed appeal and $500,000 reward for anyone who provides information leading to the recovery of Mr Falconio's remains.
Acting Commissioner Mark Grieve said despite the years that passed, it was 'never too late to reach out and at least start that conversation'.
In a statement released on Wednesday morning, NTPF said they remained 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,' the statement read.
'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.
'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.'
Originally published as Outback killer Bradley John Murdoch dead at 67
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