Peter Falconio: British government funded reports in hands of NT cops could crack case
The confidential reports, commissioned by the British government and given to NT Police, identified ‘five locations’ where Falconio could be, the expert says.
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Five locations identified in a report could hold the key to locating the body of slain backpacker Peter Falconio, after the death of his murderer earlier this month.
Forensic expert Dr Mark Harrison said a review of the case he had completed 17 years ago – at the request of then NT Police Assistant Commissioner Grahame Kelly – could hold the key to finding the final resting place of Mr Falconio.
“My review was supported with my multidisciplinary team comprising behavioural profilers, geographic profilers, forensic scientists, satellite imagery specialists, military search experts, geoforensic experts in; geology, soils, anthropology, geophysics, archaeology and canine cadaver detection,” Dr Harrison said.
“I – as the then British Police and international expert on ‘no-body’ murder searching, with a PhD in this subject serving at the time with the British National Policing Improvement Agency – reviewed interviews, statements, exhibits, forensic reports and search records.
“Following this review I, along with a select team of experts, travelled to the Northern Territory and following meetings with the NT Police senior executive conducted a thorough assessment of 13 locations, that aligned with the ‘attributes of body disposal theory and Bradley Murdoch’s behavioural profile’.
“This body of work, fully funded by the British Government and completed in 2008, resulted in me producing a detailed and technical geoforensic search strategy requiring highly specialised search capabilities.”
Dr Harrison has previously worked with the Australian Federal Police, British police, and the FBI – who call him “Dr Search”.
With his team, Dr Harrison authored two reports for NT Police – the second of which reduced the sites to five locations he said.
Dr Harrison said the reports were confidential, and he would not provide this masthead with a copy.
But, following the death of Bradley Murdoch – who was farewelled in Alice Springs after dying of throat cancer – Dr Harrison says he thinks it’s time his report was again reviewed by police.
Dr Harrison said NT Police had relied on Murdoch admitting where Mr Falconio’s body was over the years, and said when his report was first authored, \NT Police did not have the capabilities to action the reports.
“In the 17 years since this report there have been significant advances in search technologies and forensic science,” he said.
“With the recent death of Bradley Murdoch, I believe this presents renewed opportunities to bring long-awaited closure for the Falconio family.”
Peter Falconio was murdered by Murdoch on a remote stretch of the Stuart Highway near Barrow Creek on July 14, 2001.
Mr Falconio was travelling with his girlfriend, Joanne Lees, who managed to escape capture by Murdoch by hiding in the shrubs.
Murdoch was convicted of the murder and of attempting to abduct Ms Less in 2005.
He twice unsuccessfully appealed his convictions, and in 2007 the High Court refused him special leave.
Murdoch died in Alice Springs on July 15 – 24 years and one day after the murder – without ever revealing the location of Mr Falconio.
This masthead exclusively reported Murdoch was moved to palliative care in Alice Springs in June.
On June 25, NT Police announced an increase in the award money for those who provide information that lead to the discovery of a body to $500k.
Questions were sent to NT Police asking if new searches for Mr Falconio had been conducted, if Dr Harrison's report had been reviewed, and if police planned to enlist any outside help in the search for Mr Falconio.
A response was not received by deadline.
Originally published as Peter Falconio: British government funded reports in hands of NT cops could crack case
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