Bradley Murdoch was a ‘broken man’ – who made a good cheesecake – behind bars: Former prisoner

A former prisoner has spoken about the time he was behind bars with British backpacker killer Bradley John Murdoch and the ‘broken man’ he was – and the ‘beautiful’ cakes he made.

Bradley John Murdoch (left) and Peter Falconio (left).

Bradley John Murdoch was a “broken man” behind bars, according to one former prisoner who was behind the wire with him – and who adamantly believes the “old school crim” was innocent.

Jack – who did not want his real name used – said he spent time working in the prison kitchen with the now deceased killer of Peter Falconio about three and half years ago.

The former prisoner said during the time the pair spent in Holtze together Murdoch struck him as someone who was “very intelligent, that was very emotionally f****d – like a broken man”.

Bradley John Murdoch prior to his death. Picture: Supplied by Mr Murdoch's family.

“A couple of times we were talking, he was telling me how he basically felt crippled. He felt powerless to prove his innocence,” he said.

Murdoch was convicted by a jury of murdering Mr Falconio and attempting to abduct his girlfriend Joanne Lees in 2005.

DNA evidence tied him to the scene, with his blood found on Ms Lees, as well as her hair tie in his car.

He twice unsuccessfully appealed his conviction, and in 2007 the High Court refused to grant him special leave.

Following the announcement of his death on July 15, Jack said he felt compelled to share his story so people could see the other side of Murdoch.

Murdoch was serving his time in Holtze before he was transferred to the Alice Springs Correctional Centre in 2022.

Alice Springs Correctional Centre. Picture: Jason Walls

“He was an old school prisoner … he lived his life, I guess in his own little sort of bubble. He’d get up, he’d go to work, he would cook all the cakes and all the desserts for the prisoners and the screws [guards],” he said.

“He’d make the most beautiful cakes and desserts.”

Murdoch made an exceptional cheesecake, according to Jack, but he was humble about his culinary skills.

The two would work together five days a week in the kitchen, and Jack said after a couple of months he finally spoke about the murder of Mr Falconio.

“He said how the f**k could could I have dragged the body supposedly from the back of this car and then grabbed the Sheila and taken off,” Jack said.

“He said that’s f*****g amateur bulls**t – he said if I wanted to do something like that, he said, anybody with half a f***ing brain wouldn’t f***ing leave a crime scene like that.”

Mr Falconio was shot in the head on the side of the Stuart Highway, north of Barrow Creek, on July 14, 2001.

Bradley John Murdoch (left) and Peter Falconio (left).

Twenty-four years later, his body is yet to be recovered – with a $500,00 reward now on offer for anyone who gives police information which leads to its discovery.

Jack said he did not think Murdoch was in denial about the reality of his conviction, but the convicted killer seemed downtrodden during their time together.

However, Murdoch was not phased by his cancer diagnosis, according to Jack, instead there was “almost a tear in his eye” when he told him how he was going to die in prison over what he believed was an unjust conviction.

Jack conceded Murdoch could have been lying to him – but he staunchly believed he was innocent.

“I’ve been locked up with a murderer and a couple of bad murderers, and then you look in their eyes and instantly you can see pure evil – you see it, you feel it,” he said.

“I never felt one f***ing iota of any badness from that man.

“He looked like a very strong, powerful man that was broken, absolutely f***ing broken.”

As Murdoch died while in custody, his death will be subject to a mandatory coronial investigation under NT law.

“I just hope the truth comes out,” he said.

“Rest in peace to both of them – Peter and him [Murdoch].”

Originally published as Bradley Murdoch was a ‘broken man’ – who made a good cheesecake – behind bars: Former prisoner