Australian police have marked the 25th anniversary of the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio by releasing new images from their investigation. The images are intended to aid in the search for Mr. Falconio's remains, according to authorities.
Bradley John Murdoch was convicted in 2005 for the murder of Mr. Falconio, 28, and the assault of his girlfriend, Joanne Lees. The attack occurred on a remote stretch of the Stuart Highway near Barrow Creek in Australia's Northern Territory on July 14, 2001. Mr. Falconio and Ms. Lees, both from Huddersfield, England, were traveling across Australia in a camper van when they were ambushed.
Murdoch, who was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer in 2019 and moved to palliative care before dying last year, is believed to have disposed of Mr. Falconio's body in the remote desert between Alice Springs and Broome, an area spanning over 1,200 miles. Despite extensive searches, Mr. Falconio's body has never been found.
The newly released photographs include images of injuries sustained by Ms. Lees, such as marks and grazes on her elbow and wrists, which she acquired during the attempted abduction. The police also released a photograph of the orange Volkswagen Kombi camper van the couple was using, a footprint discovered in the sand, and a photo of Murdoch taken by investigators.
Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole stated that the investigation into Mr. Falconio's murder will remain open until his remains are located. He expressed regret that Murdoch died without disclosing the location of the body, denying closure to Mr. Falconio's family and friends.
Murdoch shot Mr. Falconio in the head on the night of July 14, 2001, after stopping the couple's campervan. He then threatened Ms. Lees, bound her hands with cable ties, and forced her into his ute. Ms. Lees managed to escape while Murdoch was disposing of Mr. Falconio's body, hiding in the bush for several hours before flagging down a truck and raising the alarm approximately five hours after the murder.
Murdoch consistently denied his involvement and maintained his innocence throughout his trial, where he was convicted in December 2005 and sentenced to life imprisonment. His appeals were unsuccessful. The case has been the subject of numerous books, documentaries, and various theories regarding the whereabouts of Mr. Falconio's body.