Former cop says take away Bradley Murdoch’s prison privileges to make him talk about Peter Falconio murder

BRADLEY Murdoch’s status as a medium-security prisoner in the Darwin Correctional Centre should be upgraded to maximum in an effort to force him to reveal the location of his victim, Peter Falconio

Bradley John Murdoch after his arrest

BRADLEY Murdoch’s status as a medium-security prisoner in the Darwin Correctional Centre should be upgraded to maximum in an effort to force him to reveal the location of his victim, Peter Falconio.

John Daulby, who led the Northern Territory police investigation into the murder of Falconio in 2001, and later sat on the NT parole board, said pressure should be put on Murdoch to get him to talk, and one way to do it was to ­remove his privileges.

Murdoch, 57, is 10 years into a 28-year non-parole sentence, though it is unlikely he would be successful in applying for parole in 2033, should he live that long, without telling police where he put Falconio.

Murdoch entered the prison as a maximum prisoner but now wears the blue T-shirt of a medium-security prisoner, which entitles him to leave his cellblock to work, most recently in the prison kitchen.

Maximum-security prisoners may not work, and Murdoch is said to value his work privileges greatly.

Mr Daulby, now out of the force but still hopeful that the Falconio family and Joanne Lees will get some finality on the case, said it was time to look at Murdoch’s prison ­circumstances.

“Murdoch has been sentenced to a lengthy term of imprisonment and it could be suggested that at his present security rating he will easily do his prison time based upon his life in the system which includes internal work detail privileges such as kitchen ­duties,” said Mr Daulby.

“It’s a hell of privilege under the circumstances and perhaps all-too comfortable. Maybe it is time to review this status.”

Mr Daulby said it concerned him, and other officers involved in the case, that Murdoch “has never admitted his guilt, shown any remorse or made any offering to show the authorities where he disposed of the body of Peter Falconio.”

Murdoch was convicted in late 2005 for the July 14, 2001 murder of Mr Falconio and the ­aggravated assault of Joanne Lees.

A former senior NT Corrections officer told News Corp Australia last week: “Murdoch’s parole officer hasn’t been born yet.”

He said Murdoch had not co-operated on the victim’s location and that it was time “he accept the evidence against him”. He said the only way Murdoch could ever contemplate parole was to disclose Falconio’s location.

The source said Murdoch, a former diesel mechanic, presented as a model prisoner. “He’s a scammer,” he said. “He’s a typical, smart above-average intelligence prisoner. He knows how to manipulate people.

“He always gets good jobs because he’s handy – he can fix anything.”

Mr Daulby said that as things stood, Murdoch had nothing to lose by revealing the location of Falconio.

“Speaking from experience, the chances of him successfully being granted parole are remote,” said Mr Daulby.

“Personally speaking, I would rather see him released at the earliest opportunity after providing information as to the whereabouts of Peter Falconio.”

NT Corrections declined to comment on Murdoch except to say he remained “in our ­custody”.