Peter Falconio’s parents, Joanne Lees cast doubt on whether Bradley John Murdoch is dying

Peter Falconio’s parents and girlfriend Joanne Lees have cast doubt on reports that the British backpacker’s killer is dying of throat cancer.

Exclusive: The parents of murdered British backpacker Peter Falconio said although they have read reports Bradley John Murdoch is dying of throat cancer, they “have been through this before”.

Speaking to News Corp at their home in the picturesque town of Holmfirth in West Yorkshire, 300km north of London, on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT), the pair were both visibly upset when speaking about their late son.

“I’ve been in touch with [a friend in] Australia and we don’t know if it’s true because it’s happened before,” Mrs Falconio said.

“This was being told back in 2021 and the time before that as well so it might not be true.

“I’ve got this in hand with somebody in Australia”.

Joanne Lees at her home in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK, speaking to reporter Sophie Elsworth. Picture: National Network News/News Corp Australia

On Thursday the NT News reported Murdoch, 67, was in a “bad way” and was receiving chemotherapy treatment at Alice Springs Hospital one day per week.

In 2019 reports claimed Mr Murdoch had terminal cancer but were not substantiated.

Earlier in the week reports emerged the convicted killer was being treated for terminal throat cancer at the Alice Springs Correctional Centre and only had months to live.

This has increased fears that the whereabouts of Mr Falconio – who was murdered near Barrow Creek north of Alice Springs 24 years ago – will never be found.

Bradley John Murdoch after his arrest.

Mr Murdoch was found guilty of murdering Mr Falconio, 28, late one night in July 2001 when the British backpacker was travelling with his girlfriend Joanne Lees, then 27.

He has always denied killing Mr Falconio.

They couple encountered Mr Murdoch when he flagged them down as they drove their Kombi van between Alice Springs and Darwin while on holiday.

He was also convicted of assault related charges and deprivation of liberty relating to Ms Lees, whom he bound up with cable ties.

She managed to escape and hid in bushland for five hours before she managed to wave down a passing vehicle to seek help.

Ms Lees, who also spoke briefly to News Corp at her home in Huddersfield in West Yorkshire this week, was not willing to discuss the latest news reports.

“I’m going to stop you there, no comment,” she told News Corp before closing the door to her two-storey home.

Mr Murdoch was not charged until 2003, two years later after the couple’s horrifying ordeal.

He was convicted of murder in a unanimous decision in the Northern Territory Supreme Court and is serving a life sentence with a non-parole period of 28 years.

Peter Falconio and Joanna Lees.

Despite this he cannot walk free under the “no body, no parole” law which was introduced in the hope it would encourage him to reveal the location of the British backpacker’s body but proved fruitless.

In 2021, on the 20th anniversary of Mr Falconio’s disappearance, NT police’s detective senior sergeant Karl Day made a plea for help to locate Mr Falconio’s body.

“The NT Police would like to take the opportunity to remind everyone that the missing person investigation into Peter remains an open and active case,” he said.