Latest news with #NewsLimited
Perth Now
6 days ago
- Perth Now
Funeral held for backpacker killer
The family of outback killer Bradley John Murdoch has held a private funeral service to farewell the man responsible for one of Australia's most notorious crimes. Murdoch, who was serving a life sentence for the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio in 2001, died on July 15. He had been diagnosed with terminal throat cancer in 2019. The 67-year-old never revealed where Mr Falconio had been buried. In a private ceremony for family and friends, Murdoch was cremated and his ashes scattered at an 'undisclosed location', 7News reported on Thursday. After his death, his family remembered him as a devoted family man. 'To many, Bradley Murdoch is known only for the events that led to his conviction in 2005 for the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio, a crime for which he has always denied responsibility from his arrest until his death,' their statement to the media said. 'But to those who truly knew him, he was much more than the headlines. 'Brad was a devoted father, father-in-law, and proud Poppy who never missed a chance to brag about his grandchildren. He was a beloved brother, uncle, and friends.' Bradley John Murdoch was serving a life sentence for the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio. Credit: News Limited Peter Falconio and his girlfriend Joanne Lees were travelling through the remote Northern Territory when Murdoch attacked them. Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Falconio's parents Joan and Luciano said they still held out hope their son's remains would be found. '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 ruin our lives more than he already has. '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.' Murdoch was convicted of murdering Mr Falconio on July 14, 2001. Joanne Lees and Peter Falconio had been travelling through the outback in a Kombi van. (AP Photo/Northern Territory Police, HO) Credit: Supplied Mr Falconio had been 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 Mr 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 twice tried to overturn the convictions, but both attempts were unsuccessful. The parents of murdered British backpacker Peter Falconio are skeptical that his killer, Bradley John Murdoch, is dying of throat cancer. 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. In a statement released after his death, the NT Police Force said it 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. '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
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
‘Absolute GOAT': Better than Ponting claim
England captain Ben Stokes has crowned teammate Joe Root the greatest of all time as he closes in on the run tally of Australian champion Ricky Ponting. Root (13,259) will enter Wednesday night's fourth Test against India 119 runs behind Ponting (13,378) as the second-highest run scorer of all time. South African Jacques Kallis and Indian Rahul Dravid sit between Root and Ponting but hold just a 29 and 30-run lead respectively. If Root is to better Ponting in the first innings in Manchester, he will top the Aussie great in less innings. Regardless, if Root is to pass Ponting this week, he will still need at least three years of dominant scoring to eclipse Indian batting genius Sachin Tendulkar (15,291). Stokes said 'less is more' when asked about Root and the impending record before labelling him the greatest ever. 'Yeah, sometimes with those, less is more, maybe?' he said. 'I don't need to say anything else other than he's just the absolute G.O.A.T.' Ricky Ponting still has more Test centuries than Root. AFP Photo/Stan Honda Credit: News Limited Root will be England's most pivotal player in this summer's Ashes despite making none of his 37 Test centuries on Australian soil. The right-hander has a modest average of 35 in Australia and has failed to convert nine of his 50s. Root's recent purple patch in the twilight of his career is poised to propel him among some of the game's greats. But former Aussie coach Darren Lehmann sparked a spat between the old rivals last year when he labelled Root 'a rung below' for his record in Australia. 'Joe Root is a great player, but is he an all-time great? He's had (three) goes in the Ashes (in Australia), hasn't made a hundred,' Lehmann said told ABC Sport. 'He is a rung below (Steve Smith, Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson) for that reason. 'They've made runs all over the world in difficult conditions against different oppositions. And that's the only thing stopping Joe Root. 'I think he's a great player, but is he in that upper echelon? I don't have him in that realm. 'I think you've got to make hundreds all around the world. Smith does, (Kane) Williamson has, Kohli has, (Rohit) Sharma has – I mean they're world-class players.' The Ashes begin in Perth on November 21.
Sydney Morning Herald
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Sick of being kicked in the guts': Under-siege O'Brien committed to Knights
Under-siege Newcastle coach Adam O'Brien admits he is 'sick of being kicked in the guts' when being constantly forced to address his future. 'I've taken the approach that I'm the coach of the club right now,' he said on Saturday. This masthead revealed during the week that Knights powerbrokers had started to make internal plans to part ways with O'Brien after six years at the helm of the club. A top-12 finish last year triggered a two-year extension for O'Brien, who is expected to receive a full payout. Newcastle's highest-paid player, Kalyn Ponga, was also in the headlines, with his name floated to European rugby clubs, as well as organisers of the rebel R360 competition, amid fears he would not be at the club beyond this season. Ponga eventually took to social media to declare he would honour his Newcastle deal until the end of 2027. As for O'Brien, who has taken the Knights to the finals in four of his five full seasons in charge, what comes next is not as clear. Newcastle legend Andrew Johns said it was 'inevitable' O'Brien would be shown the door. His brother, Matthew, a fellow Knights hero, asked in his News Limited column if O'Brien had taken the side as far as he can. Blake Green is already on the payroll and a potential successor, while Cronulla assistant Josh Hannay and Hull KR coach Willie Peters, who has worked at the Knights, are other options.
The Age
19-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
‘Sick of being kicked in the guts': Under-siege O'Brien committed to Knights
Under-siege Newcastle coach Adam O'Brien admits he is 'sick of being kicked in the guts' when being constantly forced to address his future. 'I've taken the approach that I'm the coach of the club right now,' he said on Saturday. This masthead revealed during the week that Knights powerbrokers had started to make internal plans to part ways with O'Brien after six years at the helm of the club. A top-12 finish last year triggered a two-year extension for O'Brien, who is expected to receive a full payout. Newcastle's highest-paid player, Kalyn Ponga, was also in the headlines, with his name floated to European rugby clubs, as well as organisers of the rebel R360 competition, amid fears he would not be at the club beyond this season. Ponga eventually took to social media to declare he would honour his Newcastle deal until the end of 2027. As for O'Brien, who has taken the Knights to the finals in four of his five full seasons in charge, what comes next is not as clear. Newcastle legend Andrew Johns said it was 'inevitable' O'Brien would be shown the door. His brother, Matthew, a fellow Knights hero, asked in his News Limited column if O'Brien had taken the side as far as he can. Blake Green is already on the payroll and a potential successor, while Cronulla assistant Josh Hannay and Hull KR coach Willie Peters, who has worked at the Knights, are other options.
Perth Now
07-07-2025
- Perth Now
Aus marks 20 years since deadly bombings
Australia has marked the 20th anniversary of the horrific 7/7 bombings in London, in which one Australian was killed and eight others injured. On July 7, 2005, four suicide bombers targeted the UK capital's transport network. Three of the bombers detonated at three stations in the London Underground, while the fourth detonated on a bus. They killed 52 and left more than 770 injured. It has been 20 years since four suicide bombers targeted London's transport network. Metropolitan Police / WPA Pool / AFP Credit: News Limited Fifty-two people were killed and more than 770 injured. AFP Credit: News Limited Australian man Sam Ly was on the bus that was attacked. He was pulled from the wreckage but his injuries were too severe and he died a week later. Australian officials laid flowers at the 7 July Memorial Gardens to mark the tragic anniversary. Australian High Commissioner to the UK Stephen Francis Smith joined other officials in laying wreaths at the 7 July Memorial Gardens. Australian High Commission / NewsWire Credit: Supplied Australian man Sam Ly was killed in the bombings. Australian High Commission / NewsWire Credit: Supplied '20 years ago today, London experienced unimaginable horror,' the High Commission posted on social media. 'The 7 July 2005 London transport bombings killed 52 people and injured more than 700 others. 'Australians were not spared from the terror that morning.'
