Peter Falconio’s killer Bradley John Murdoch transferred from prison to deathbed in Alice Springs

Convicted killer Bradley John Murdoch – who is ‘just about dead’ – is out of jail and getting ‘special treatment’ including excursions in a Territory town.

Alice Springs Hospital. Picture: Gera Kazakov

The man convicted of murdering British backpacker Peter Falconio is “just about dead” – having been transferred out of jail and allowed on excursions as he spends his remaining days in hospital.

It can be revealed Bradley John Murdoch, 67, is now in palliative care in Alice Springs Hospital.

Murdoch was recently transferred to the unit from the Alice Springs Correctional Centre, where he had been imprisoned since 2022.

Bradley John Murdoch arrives under police escort at Darwin Airport to face murder charges of British backpacker Peter Falconio in 2003. Picture: Patrina Malone

Currently wheelchair bound, a source told this masthead Murdoch is “just about dead”.

It is understood Murdoch came back to the prison on June 19, to say goodbye to his fellow prisoners.

The source said Murdoch gets “special treatment for a murderer”, receiving more welfare checks than any other prisoner.

The source also said Murdoch had been in and around Alice Springs on excursions, often flanked by high-ranking corrections officers.

Another source described Murdoch as “very ill”.

Murdoch was first diagnosed with terminal throat cancer in 2019.

He has been receiving chemotherapy in Alice Springs hospital, with his cancer diagnosis previously leading to fears he will be taking his secrets to the grave.

Murdoch was transferred to Alice Springs Correctional Centre in 2022, having previously been housed in Holtze prison in Darwin – where he worked as a pastry chef.

Peter Falconio was murdered by Bradley Murdoch in the Northern Territory in 2001.

This masthead asked NT Corrections about Murdoch’s current status, his CBD excursions, and how much taxpayers have spent on them.

An NT government spokesperson replied: “The Department of Corrections does not comment on the health of individual prisoners”.

“Additionally, we do not provide details about prisoner movements or escorts for operational security reasons,” they said.

An NT Health spokesperson said the department “does not provide comment about individuals for privacy reasons”.

NT Police did not reply when asked if they had further questioned Murdoch on the location of Mr Falconio’s body.

Murdoch was convicted in 2005 of Mr Falconio’s murder.

Peter Falconio and Joanne Lees in their car. Picture: File

Mr Falconio’s body has never been found.

On July 14, 2001, Mr Falconio was travelling with his girlfriend Joanne Lees along the Stuart Hwy in a Kombi van north of Barrow Creek when a car pulled alongside and motioned for the couple to pull over.

Once pulled over, Murdoch shot Mr Falconio in the head.

Murdoch also attempted to abduct Ms Lees, but she hid in the bushes and was later rescued by a passing motorist.

Murdoch was sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole period of 28 years, and maintained his innocence throughout the trial.

His two appeals to overturn his convictions were unsuccessful, and the High Court refused him special leave in 2007.

In 2016, the NT passed the “no body no parole” law, which prevents convicted killers from being eligible for parole if they do not reveal the location of the victim’s body.

Murdoch would have been eligible for parole in 2032.

Originally published as Peter Falconio’s killer Bradley John Murdoch transferred from prison to deathbed in Alice Springs