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West Australian
16-07-2025
- West Australian
Peter Falconio's parents still hopeful they will find son's body despite killer Bradley John Murdoch dying
The parents of Peter Falconio say they still 'hold out hope' they will find their son despite his killer taking his secret of where his body is hidden to his grave. Bradley John Murdoch, 67, succumbed to throat cancer on Tuesday after being moved from jail in June to a hospital in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. Murdoch was serving a life sentence for the murder of Mr Falconio, 28, and the assault and attempted kidnapping of his girlfriend Joanne Lees, now 51, on the Stuart Highway near Barrow Creek in July 2001. In a statement to 7NEWS on Wednesday, Mr Falconio's parents Luciano and Joan Falconio said: '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 to ruin our lives more than he already has,' they said. '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 grieving parents added: '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,' they said. '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.' 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. 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. In a statement released on Wednesday morning, NT Police 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 said. '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.'
Perth Now
16-07-2025
- Perth Now
Peter Falconio's parents speak out on death of son's killer
The parents of Peter Falconio say they still 'hold out hope' they will find their son despite his killer taking his secret of where his body is hidden to his grave. Bradley John Murdoch, 67, succumbed to throat cancer on Tuesday after being moved from jail in June to a hospital in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. Murdoch was serving a life sentence for the murder of Mr Falconio, 28, and the assault and attempted kidnapping of his girlfriend Joanne Lees, now 51, on the Stuart Highway near Barrow Creek in July 2001. In a statement to 7NEWS on Wednesday, Mr Falconio's parents Luciano and Joan Falconio said: 'Upon hearing that Bradley John Murdoch had died our first feeling was of relief, it's like a weight that's been lifted.' Flanked by Northern Territory police officers, Peter Falconio murder suspect, Bradley John Murdoch (Bradley Murdoch), arrives in Darwin for court appearance. Credit: Dave Hancock / Fairfax '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,' they said. '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 grieving parents added: 'We didn't have much faith, but we were hoping Bradley John Murdoch would reveal where Peter was before he died.' Peter Falconio and Joanne Lees. Credit: TheWest 'But even now we still hold out hope that his remains will be found,' they said. '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.' 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. The Falconio family. Pictured: Joan Falconio, Luciano Falconio, Paul Falconio, and Nick Falconio. Credit: ROB GRIFFITH / AP 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. 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. In a statement released on Wednesday morning, NT Police 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 said. '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.'
The Irish Sun
16-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Outback killer commits evil last act before his death as Brit victim Peter Falconio's grieving dad reveals his heartache
OUTBACK killer John Bradley Murdoch who was convicted of murdering Brit Peter Falconio committed an evil final act before dying of cancer. Tragic Falconio's grieving dad has now expressed his heartbreak after Murdoch, Advertisement 7 Bradley Murdoch was convicted of killing British backpacker Peter Falconio in the Australian Outback in 2001 Credit: Getty 7 Peter Falconio's remains have yet to be found Credit: Getty 7 Bradley Murdoch has died at the age of 67 Credit: getty Murdoch in 2005 was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for murdering Falconio in the remote area of Australia 's Northern Territory. But the killer was Falconio's death shocked the world after grisly details emerged revealing how Murdoch pulled off the fatal attack. His Advertisement read more on the case Northern Territory Police Force said Murdoch did not provide any fresh information about the location of Falconio's remains before his death. Dad Luciano Falconio revealed his heartbreak as he said he wished that Murdoch had "left something" to help him recover his son's body. He added: "I don't wish anybody dead because you have only got one life and I think if you've been given that gift of life... I don't even know what to say. "I tell you what I think, I wish he [Murdoch] left something for me to find him." Advertisement Most read in The Sun The Northern Territory Police Force said in a statement: "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." Manhunt for missing 'killer' dad Travis Decker underway following fresh 'sighting' – weeks after 'murdering his 3 kids' Murdoch is said to have flagged down a van driven by the young Brit before shooting him in the head in front of his girlfriend Joanne Lees. Murdoch would then tie up the terrified woman with cable ties and try to abduct her. Advertisement Ms Lees miraculously managed to escape and hid in a bush for five hours in the boiling Outback. She was later able to help convict Murdoch by identifying him as the murderer. 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. 7 Peter, 28, and his girlfriend Joanne Lees before his brutal murder Credit: Getty Advertisement 7 The Kombi camper van belonging to Joanne Lees and Peter Falconio Credit: Getty - Pool 7 The couple pictured in the van Credit: PA 7 Murdoch was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2019 Despite repeated searches, Mr Falconio's body has never been found. Advertisement 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." News surfaced on February 17, 2023, that police had found some bones near Alice Springs that were being tested to see if they were the remains of Peter Falconio. Advertisement The 'Current media reports are factually incorrect.' Peter Falconio case timeline PETER Falconio was shot dead in the Australian outback while travelling with girlfriend Joanne Lees in July 2001. He was 28 years old when he was tragically shot by a man who flagged down the van he was driving. The man was 43-year-old drug smuggler Bradley John Murdoch. Murdoch shot Falconio in the head before bundling Lees into his car and binding her with cable ties. She managed to escape and hide in bushes for five hours, before she ran into the road and waved down a passing truck. Lees soon became a prime suspect in her boyfriend's murder after claims she appeared "emotionless" after the incident. But it was later revealed she had taken the sedative Valium to help her handle her horror ordeal. Police were never able to locate Falconio's remains. Reports in February 2023 detailed that police had found some bones near Alice Springs that were being tested to see if they were the remains of Peter Falconio. The reports were later rubbished with authorities stating: 'No human remains have been located by Northern Territory Police, and a search is not currently being conducted." Murdoch had launched several appeals against his conviction, but he remained in prison in the Northern Territory until his death.
Scottish Sun
16-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Outback killer commits evil last act before his death as Brit victim Peter Falconio's grieving dad reveals his heartache
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) OUTBACK killer John Bradley Murdoch who was convicted of murdering Brit Peter Falconio committed an evil final act before dying of cancer. Tragic Falconio's grieving dad has now expressed his heartbreak after Murdoch, who died at the age of 67, did not reveal where his victim's remains are. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Bradley Murdoch was convicted of killing British backpacker Peter Falconio in the Australian Outback in 2001 Credit: Getty 7 Peter Falconio's remains have yet to be found Credit: Getty 7 Bradley Murdoch has died at the age of 67 Credit: getty Murdoch in 2005 was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for murdering Falconio in the remote area of Australia's Northern Territory. But the killer was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer in 2019. Falconio's death shocked the world after grisly details emerged revealing how Murdoch pulled off the fatal attack. His body was never found. Northern Territory Police Force said Murdoch did not provide any fresh information about the location of Falconio's remains before his death. Dad Luciano Falconio revealed his heartbreak as he said he wished that Murdoch had "left something" to help him recover his son's body. He added: "I don't wish anybody dead because you have only got one life and I think if you've been given that gift of life... I don't even know what to say. "I tell you what I think, I wish he [Murdoch] left something for me to find him." The Northern Territory Police Force said in a statement: "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." Manhunt for missing 'killer' dad Travis Decker underway following fresh 'sighting' – weeks after 'murdering his 3 kids' Murdoch is said to have flagged down a van driven by the young Brit before shooting him in the head in front of his girlfriend Joanne Lees. Murdoch would then tie up the terrified woman with cable ties and try to abduct her. Ms Lees miraculously managed to escape and hid in a bush for five hours in the boiling Outback. She was later able to help convict Murdoch by identifying him as the murderer. 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. 7 Peter, 28, and his girlfriend Joanne Lees before his brutal murder Credit: Getty 7 The Kombi camper van belonging to Joanne Lees and Peter Falconio Credit: Getty - Pool 7 The couple pictured in the van Credit: PA 7 Murdoch was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2019 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." News surfaced on February 17, 2023, that police had found some bones near Alice Springs that were being tested to see if they were the remains of Peter Falconio. The reports were rubbished with authorities stating: 'No human remains have been located by Northern Territory Police, and a search is not currently being conducted. 'Current media reports are factually incorrect.'
The Age
16-07-2025
- The Age
Family of outback killer Bradley John Murdoch speaks out
'He was deeply loved. He will be deeply missed,' the statement concluded. Police say Falconio was shot on a remote stretch of the Stuart Highway near Barrow Creek, about 300 kilometres north of Alice Springs, in July 2001. Falconio's blood was found where police believe he was murdered before his body was moved. The British backpacker was travelling around the country with his girlfriend Joanne Lees, who survived Murdoch's attack. The pair, both from Yorkshire, had travelled across South-East Asia before arriving in Australia. Lees told police that at about 7pm on July 14, 2001, the pair became aware that a car was following them as they travelled north up the Stuart Highway towards Devil's Marbles in their orange Kombi van. Driving a white Toyota 4WD ute, Murdoch gestured at Falconio, who was driving the van, to pull over, which he did. Murdoch then told Falconio he'd seen sparks shooting out of the Kombi's exhaust. Lees was sitting in the front of the parked van when the two men went to examine the exhaust, and she heard a loud bang. Murdoch then appeared in the front window, brandishing a silver handgun, which he pointed at Lees' head. 'I just kept thinking this was not happening to me. I couldn't believe that this was happening. I felt alone. I kept shouting for Pete and thought I was going to die,' Lees told the jury at Murdoch's 2005 trial. 'I was more scared of being raped than being shot by the man,' she said. Murdoch moved Lees to his vehicle and tied her wrists behind her back, punching her in the head as she struggled. Murdoch then became distracted, with Lees reporting that she heard 'gravel scraping on the ground, as if he was moving something'. Lees slid out of the vehicle, dropped to the ground and scrambled to a hiding spot behind a bush where she stayed for up to five hours in the dark. Once she was sure Murdoch was gone, she flagged down a truck that took her to Barrow Creek. A widespread manhunt was launched, and the search for Falconio's body began. The case received intense media interest, both in Australia and the UK, with Lees facing particular scrutiny over her recounting of the attack. The murder is cited as one of the inspirations for the 2005 Australian horror film Wolf Creek. The first breakthrough came early in the investigation when a man reported that Bradley John Murdoch was responsible for the crimes. Murdoch was under arrest in South Australia, facing charges over the abduction and rape of a 12-year-old girl and her mother. A DNA sample was taken in the hopes it could be linked to evidence found at the Northern Territory crime scenes. While Murdoch has always maintained his innocence, his defence was ultimately undone by his decision to keep an elastic hair tie that belonged to Lees. The case's lead investigator, former NT police officer Colleen Gwynne, told the ABC in 2016 that an officer had noticed the hair tie wrapped around Murdoch's holster in a search of his possessions, speculating that he was likely to have kept it as a 'trophy'. In 2003, Murdoch was acquitted of the South Australia rapes and immediately rearrested and extradited to the Northern Territory, where he was charged with Falconio's murder. In 2005, Bradley John Murdoch was convicted of murdering Falconio, and assaulting and attempting to kidnap Lees. He was serving a life sentence in Alice Springs prison with a non-parole period of 28 years when he died. 'Your conduct in murdering Mr Falconio and attacking Ms Lees was nothing short of cowardly in the extreme,' Northern Territory Supreme Court Justice Brian Martin said in his sentencing. Loading Murdoch never revealed the location of Falconio's body, and under the Northern Territory's 2016 'no body, no parole laws', he may have never been granted parole. He twice appealed to overturn his convictions, but was unsuccessful. Born in the West Australian town of Northampton in 1958, Murdoch spent most of his life in Broome working as a mechanic. Murdoch had a history of violent crime, serving time in a Western Australian jail in the mid-1990s for shooting at a crowd of Aboriginal football fans. As with all deaths in custody, Murdoch's death will be investigated by the Northern Territory Coroner. On Tuesday this week, Luciano Falconio pleaded for assistance in locating his son's body so that Peter could be buried while he and his wife are still alive. 'I still hope, yeah I still hope, but I don't know if we [will] live long enough', he told News Corp. 'I wish I could find him and make an end to it, bury him.' In a statement, NT Police said it was 'deeply regrettable' that Murdoch had died without 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 read. 'The Northern Territory Police Force remains committed to resolving this final piece of the investigation.' Less than a month ago, NT Police upped its cash reward to $500,000 for information that would lead to the discovery of Falconio's remains. 'We recognise the passage of time that's transpired, however it's never too late to reach out and start that conversation with police,' NT Police Acting Commander Mark Grieve told a press conference on June 25, adding that he still had hope. 'You just never know how beneficial that information that you may hold, may be – essentially, you just don't know what you know.' The renewed bid for information was made amid reports that Murdoch was in palliative care in Alice Springs Hospital. Grieve said Murdoch had never positively engaged with the police despite 'numerous approaches' including in the same week.
