Former journalist's shock claim that he knows where Peter Falconio's body is

THE body of British backpacker Peter Falconio is buried at the bottom of a desolate well, according to a witness who has just come forward.

Murdoch appeals Falconio conviction

THE body of British backpacker Peter Falconio is buried at the bottom of a desolate well, according to a witness who has just come forward.

Falconio and girlfriend Joanne Lees were attacked in 2001 by Bradley Murdoch near Alice Springs, who was convicted of Falconio’s murder in 2005.

The British man’s body was never found but Today Tonight claims to have spoken to someone who says they witnessed Murdoch’s vehicle parked on a remote rural property soon after attack.

The witness, a friend of former NT News journalist Paul Jackson, believed that Falconio’s body had been dumped in a well at Neutral Junction Station, about 2km from where he was murdered by Murdoch.

Today Tonight searched the well — which they claimed had not been searched by Northern Territory police — but failed to find any sign of Falconio’s remains.

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Mr Jackson told Today Tonight that they only became aware of the case when they saw Murdoch appearing in court in 2005, as they had been living in isolated areas without access to the news.

"What are the chances a vehicle looking like Murdoch's is going to be at that area, at that time, one hour [and] 20 minutes after the murder, which happened 2.5kmaway?” he said

“One day it will be found. Someone will walk across it, stumble across it or dig it up or whatever, but it's there.

Mr Jackson is convinced it was Murdoch who was parked by the well, disposing of Peter Falconio's body.

The sighting was just an hour after the killing.

"If you're a killer and a pre-mediated killer, you're not going to carry your body around for hours and hours on the road.

NT Police spokeswoman Rebecca Forrest said Today Tonight had not contacted them about the alleged location of Peter Falconio’s body.

“Today Tonight hasn’t liaised with us at all prior to the report going to air,” she said.

“The Falconio case is ongoing, anyone with any information is encouraged to call Police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

“NT Police followed up all relevant areas and sightings thoroughly and searched all areas of interest received from substantive information

“If anyone has any information about the whereabouts of Peter Falconio they are obliged to bring it to police attention urgently.”

Falconio and Lees, both from Yorkshire, were touring Australia in an orange Kombi van in 2001, when a man flagged them down on a lonely stretch of the Stuart Highway in the Northern Territory.

After Falconio got out of the car to speak with the man, Lees heard a shot and then a person later identified as Murdoch handcuffed her before she managed to escape.

She never saw her boyfriend again, but police later found a pool of blood on the road.

Murdoch was later convicted of Mr Falconio’s murder and is serving a life sentence.

But he maintained his innocence and lodged an appeal against his conviction last December.