Unanswered questions over Peter Falconio murder case continue to intrigue people worldwide

VIDEO: It’s nearly 16 years since the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio, but the case still captures the undivided attention of the nation

IT’S nearly 16 years since the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio, but the case still captures the undivided attention of the nation.

In July 2001, Mr Falconio was ripped from his fiance, Joanne Lees — his accomplice in travel, youth and love — at gunpoint on an empty stretch of the Stuart Highway.

During that time Bradley John Murdoch has been tried and convicted for the killing of the backpacking Brit.

The 58-year-old is serving life at Holtze prison in Darwin.

But the eerie case holds added potency due to the fact Mr Falconio’s body has never been found. And as the years roll on, and with Murdoch’s lips remaining firmly shut, hopes of finding it are rapidly eroding.

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Despite this, NT Police have put out fresh calls to the public to help solve this enduring outback mystery, and offer an answer to those who continue to wait for one.

In the Barrow Creek bar, in the early hours of July 14, 2001, Sergeant Erica Sims attempted to take down details from abduction survivor Lees, who stood shell-shocked, trying to recount the events.

Just prior, Sgt Sims had driven the 280km up from Alice after receiving a “bizarre” night shift communication.

“We’d had a reasonably busy night, and it must’ve been just after midnight we had a call from the comms operator to say there was an incident at Barrow Creek that we would be required to attend to,” she said.

”I was like, ‘what kind of incident at this hour of the night?’

“And he basically explained that a female had reported that she’d been abducted and her boyfriend was missing. So, that was a really, really bizarre type of job to be dispatched from Alice Springs. Far different to the normal type of job.”

When she and a colleague reached Barrow Creek, the pair found a “genuinely shell-shocked” Ms Lees in the historic hotel.

“At that stage there was only two of us there. I spoke to Joanne and she reiterated her story,” Sgt Sims recalls.

“And on the basis of the information that she provided, other resources were dispatched to the area.”

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Despite decades in the Territory force, something about that morning in Barrow Creek has stuck in Sgt Sims’ mind — something inerasable.

“It’s definitely the biggest, most complicated type of job I’ve ever been involved in. And I wasn’t an investigator, I was just the initial responding member.

“So it was a really big deal for the Territory, and essentially for that area.

“We had absolutely no comprehension of the extent of the investigation (that would follow) or what would be required in the circumstances. The more information that came to light, it became very apparent this was not going to be a quick, easy solve.”

Bradley John Murdoch was found guilty of the murder of Peter Falconio. PICTURE: Supplied

Peter Falconio with girlfriend Joanne Lees. PICTURE: Supplied

ANOTHER police officer who worked closely on the case was former Assistant Commissioner Jamie Chalker.

He recalled the intense media presence and difficulties in co-ordinating a search that covered such a vast area of remote terrain.

“It was a very significant homicide investigation further complicated by the tyranny of distance for the resources to get there,” he said.

“But I think what’s lost is the many bus loads of police officers and volunteers who continued to travel up regularly to conduct the search.

“People roughed it in sleeping accommodation to try and make sure they were there for ongoing deployment.

“The fact is the Territory is a very difficult, hostile terrain to police and the fact the NT Police managed to do what they did, work in conjunction with the director of public prosecutions to secure a murder conviction, is an absolute testament to all of those involved.”

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As the 15th anniversary approached last year the pressure to force Murdoch to reveal where he dumped Mr Falconio’s body was increased earlier this year with the introduction of the No Body No Parole legislation.

Under Territory law, any murderer who does not reveal the location of their victim’s body would not be eligible for parole.

So far the legislation applies to only one man convicted of murder in the Territory’s prison system — Bradley Murdoch.

Former Attorney-General John Elferink said it was the right of a victim’s family to have closure and hoped the legislation would compel murderers to co-operate with investigators.

The Kombi van owned by British tourists Joanne Lees and her boyfriend Peter Falconio. PICTURE: Supplied

LAST year, Mr Chalker said police were still driven to find Mr Falconio’s remains, for the sake of his grieving family.

Mr Chalker said investigators were still in contact with the Falconios, but only when credible leads emerged.

Earlier this year reports surfaced that a Remington New Army Model .44 was found in a septic tank 28km north of where Mr Falconio was shot dead.

Mr Chalker said police investigated the possibility the firearm was the one used to shoot Mr Falconio, but eventually ruled out any link to the murder.

“The process would be that if we had any credible information we think is going to be of interest to them, we would make that contact,” he said.

“People have got to understand they have gone through the trauma of having lost a loved one and anniversaries like this are very painful for them.

“They are never going to have Peter back in their life and they have come to that realisation.

But the one thing they would hang on to quite clearly is that they would like his remains returned to them.”

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He said the emotion of closing a case that has affected so many Territory police would be not professional pride, but satisfaction at finally being able to return Mr Falconio to his family.

“That’s what drives us. It’s not about self reward for us. It’s not about whether it’s a great outcome for the NT Police. It’s actually what drives us continually — how do we actually make a difference in the lives of people that have been affected by crime?

“It’s sad to say the Falconios have absolutely been the victims of crime. And a very heinous one at that.”

Sgt Sims said finding Mr Falconio’s body would be the final piece in the puzzle.

“It’s not unresolved, the verdict was right. But not having closure for the family, that is really, really hard.”