Peter Falconio’s killer Bradley John Murdoch dies aged 67

Murdoch was convicted in 2005 over the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio on a remote stretch of the Stuart Highway.

Bradley Murdoch was convicted in 2005 over the murder of Falconio, 28, and the assault and attempted kidnap of the backpacker’s girlfriend, Joanne Lees.

Notorious outback killer Bradley John Murdoch has died of terminal throat cancer days after the father of murdered British backpacker Peter Falconio made an emotional plea for the killer to reveal where his son’s remains were.

Murdoch, 67, had been transferred from prison to a palliative care unit at Alice Springs Hospital and died there on Tuesday. He previously underwent chemotherapy after being diagnosed in 2019.

A spokesman from the NT corrections department confirmed Murdoch “passed away last night (Tuesday) in the palliative care unit at Alice Springs Hospital”.

“The death will be subject to investigation by the Northern Territory Coroner,” the spokesman said.

“No further comment at this time.”

Murdoch was convicted in 2005 over the murder of Falconio, 28, and the assault and attempted kidnap of the backpacker’s girlfriend, Joanne Lees, on a remote stretch of highway in the Northern Territory.

The young British couple had been driving along the Stuart Highway near Barrow Creek, north of Alice Springs, on July 14, 2001 when the were flagged down and ambushed by Murdoch.

The Kombi Van driven by Peter Falconio and Joanne Lees.

Murdoch shot Falconio dead and attempted to ­abduct Ms Lees. She was later able to escape, hiding in bushland for hours until she was able to wave down a passing road train.

Sentenced to life with a non-parole period of 28 years, Murdoch had refused to reveal where he hid Falconio’s body, and it has never been found.

On Monday, the 24th anniversary of the murder, Falconio’s father Luciano said he did not know whether he and his wife Joan would live long enough to find out where their son’s body was.

In a statement to The Australian on Wednesday, Luciano and Joan said they felt ‘relief’ upon hearing the news of Murdoch’s death.

“It’s like a weight that’s been lifted,” they said.

“We are only forced to think about him now that he’s died, we don’t want to let him to ruin our lives more than he already has.

“The awful thing is our family’s future with Peter was cruelly taken away.

“Today we instead focus on the three children we have left and our grandchildren.

“We didn’t have much faith but we were hoping Bradley John Murdoch would reveal where “Peter was before he died.

“But even now we still hold out hope that his remains will be found.

“Finally, we wish to express our profound thanks to the Northern Territory Police for the support and continuing efforts to investigate our son’s murder.”

Peter Falconio and girlfriend Joanne Lees

In a statement on Wednesday morning, NT police said it was “deeply regrettable that Murdoch has died without, as far as we are aware, ever disclosing the location of Peter Falconio’s remains”.

“His silence has denied the Falconio family the closure they have so long deserved,” the police statement read.

“Our thoughts are with the Falconio family in the United Kingdom, whose grief continues.

“The Northern Territory Police Force remains committed to resolving this final piece of the investigation.”

Last month Northern Territory police doubled the reward for information leading to Falconio’s body to $500,000.

“We continue to appeal to anyone who may have information that could lead us to Peter Falconio’s remains to come forward, no matter how small the detail may seem,” the police statement added.

Acting commander Mark Grieve told reporters in June that police had “made numerous approaches” to Murdoch, but “unfortunately … on all occasions he has chosen not to engage with police”.

“The NT police still hold out hope that someone may be able to provide some vital information to assist in this search,” he said.

“You never know how beneficial that information you may hold may be. Sometimes you do not know what you know.”