Lead us to a body or rot in jail forever

TOUGH new laws to force Falconio killer to reveeal location of vistim’s body — or rot in prison for ever

SSIMAGE: Bradley John Murdoch arrives under police escort at Darwin Airport to face murder charges of British backpacker Peter Falconio. Pic By Patrina Malone

A CLEAR message has been sent to convicted killer Bradley John Murdoch: tell us where Peter Falconio is buried or you will rot in jail.

The Northern Territory Government has announced it will introduce “no body, no parole” legislation.

The new law will affect only one man, Murdoch, whose refusal to reveal the location of English backpacker Peter Falconio’s body remains a source of pain and intrigue more than a decade after the case that created worldwide headlines.

NT Attorney-General John Elferink said he planned to introduce the laws next week and that he knew of only one relevant case.

Murdoch was famously convicted of Falconio’s murder in 2006 but he continues to deny committing the crime and has refused to reveal where he buried the English backpacker.

Falconio went missing while driving with his girlfriend Joanne Lees on the Stuart Highway near Barrow Creek in 2001.

Lees said they were flagged down by a man who shot Falconio dead and kidnapped her before she escaped.

Mr Elferink said the legislation couldn’t be any clearer for Murdoch.

“It can’t be much more straightforward than this. If you don’t tell us where the body is you will not walk among us,” he said.

“It’s the principle of making sure that a family has the right to bury their loved ones which are much greater rights than the selfish motives of murders.”

Mr Elferink said the legislation follows similar laws introduced in South Australia. NT Criminal Lawyers Association president Russell Goldflam said the proposed law was a publicity stunt.

“My view is this proposed legislation is a highly effective publicity stunt. It’s an example of a Government heading towards an election pulling out the good old law and order drum and giving it a good bash,” he said.

“Of course the family of the people who have been murdered and the body’s whereabouts that are hidden and unknown, they have to endure a life of grief and unresolved anguish and that does tragically does happen from time to time.

“It’s up to the parole board to decide whether or not the person would be allowed back into the community.”

Labor MLA Nicole Manison said the party would review the draft legislation and consult with stakeholders like Victims of Crime NT before supporting it.

She said Mr Elferink had a history of making mistakes with legislation.

“And (that’s) why you want to make sure you take a considered and informed position and get all the facts,” she said.

Last month, the police officer who led the investigation, John Daulby, called for Murdoch to lose his privileges inside the Darwin Correctional Centre at Holtze.

Murdoch is classified as medium security and is understood to value his work privileges. Mr Daulby told the NT News those should be denied while the location of the body remained a mystery.

“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,” Mr Daulby said.

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

Mr Elferink would not comment when asked whether the NT Government had any intention to review Murdoch’s status in the jail.