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Bradley Murdoch: Man who murdered British backpacker Peter Falconio dies Bradley Murdoch: Man who murdered British backpacker Peter Falconio dies
(about 3 hours later)
Peter Falconio was killed while travelling around Australia with girlfriend Joanne LeesPeter Falconio was killed while travelling around Australia with girlfriend Joanne Lees
Bradley Murdoch, the Australian man who murdered British backpacker Peter Falconio in 2001, has died from throat cancer. Bradley Murdoch, an Australian man who murdered British backpacker Peter Falconio in 2001, has died from throat cancer.
Murdoch, 67, was serving a life sentence at a prison in Alice Springs, in Australia's Northern Territory. Murdoch, 67, was serving a life sentence at a prison in Alice Springs, in Australia's Northern Territory. He never revealed the location of Mr Falconio's body.
He died in the local hospital's palliative care unit, on 15 July, a day after the 24th anniversary of the killing, the Department of Corrections told the BBC. The victim's parents, Joan and Luciano Falconio, said they were relieved that the killer was dead, but they had hoped that Murdoch would one day reveal where their son's body is.
In a statement, the Northern Territory Police Force said: "It is deeply regrettable that Murdoch has died without, as far as we are aware, ever disclosing the location of Peter Falconio's remains." "Even now we still hold out hope that his remains will be found," they said in a statement.
Murdoch's death will be subject to investigation by the territory's coroner, officials added. The Northern Territory Police Force said: "It is deeply regrettable that Murdoch has died without, as far as we are aware, ever disclosing the location of Peter Falconio's remains."
In 2005, Murdoch was convicted of murdering Mr Falconio but had never revealed the location of his body. Murdoch died in the Alice Springs hospital's palliative care unit on 15 July, a day after the 24th anniversary of the killing, the Department of Corrections told the BBC. His death will be investigated by the coroner.
Peter Falconio was shot dead on a remote stretch of highway near the Northern Territory town of Barrow Creek, about 300km (186 miles) north of Alice Springs in July 2001. The murder of Peter Falconio remains one of Australia's most high-profile cases. It attracted worldwide attention and partly inspired the 2005 horror film Wolf Creek.
The backpacker was shot dead on a remote stretch of highway near the Northern Territory town of Barrow Creek, about 300km (186 miles) north of Alice Springs in July 2001.
The 28-year-old and his girlfriend, Joanne Lees, who were both from Yorkshire, were travelling around Australia at the time of his murder.The 28-year-old and his girlfriend, Joanne Lees, who were both from Yorkshire, were travelling around Australia at the time of his murder.
Murdoch pulled up beside Mr Falconio's vehicle, claiming to have seen sparks coming from the camper van he was driving. Murdoch, who was 43, pulled up beside their vehicle, claiming to have seen sparks coming from the camper van he was driving.
He shot Mr Falconio in the head as he inspected the vehicle, before taking 28-year-old Ms Lees, into his car and binding her wrists with cable ties. He shot Mr Falconio in the head as he inspected the car, before taking 28-year-old Ms Lees, into his car and binding her wrists with cable ties.
Watch: Lead investigator into Falconio murder speaks after Bradley Murdoch’s death She managed to escape by hiding in outback scrub for several hours before she was able to wave down two men driving a truck.
Murdoch was also convicted of the attempted kidnap and assault of Ms Lees, who managed to escape by hiding in outback scrub for several hours before she was able to signal for help.
"[Murdoch's] silence has denied the Falconio family the closure they have so long deserved. Our thoughts are with the Falconio family in the United Kingdom, whose grief continues," the police statement said.
The ordeal partly inspired the 2005 horror film Wolf Creek.
Murdoch was 43 when he committed the crimes.
During the trial, prosecutors said that it was likely he had disposed of Mr Falconio's body somewhere in the vast expanse of wilderness between Alice Springs and Broome, a distance of nearly 1,600km (1,000 miles).
In 2016, the Northern Territory introduced "no body, no parole" legislation, meaning Murdoch would not have been eligible for parole in 2032 if he did not reveal the location of Mr Falconio's body.
Murdoch had always maintained his innocence, and unsuccessfully appealed to overturn his convictions twice.
Lead investigator Colleen Gwynne told the ABC that it was a "sad day" for Mr Falconio's family, and that "an enormous opportunity" to find his remains had been lost.
Bradley Murdoch never revealed the location of Peter Falconio's bodyBradley Murdoch never revealed the location of Peter Falconio's body
In an interview with local newspaper NT News published this week, Mr Falconio's father Luciano said: "I wish I could find him and make an end to it, bury him." The police investigation was enormous - there were 600 persons of interest at one point. The case sparked a media frenzy, with British and Australian media fixating on Joanne Lees and treating her as a suspect.
"I know what happened but I don't know where he is," Luciano added. In 2005, Murdoch was convicted of murdering Mr Falconio and of the attempted kidnap and assault of Ms Lees.
Her hair elastic, which was found tied around Murdoch's gun holster, proved to be the vital piece of evidence that would seal his fate.
"I think it was a trophy but no-one will ever know," lead investigator Colleen Gwynne told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
During the eight-week trial, prosecutors said Murdoch was likely to have disposed of Mr Falconio's body in the wilderness between Alice Springs and Broome, a distance of nearly 1,600km (1,000 miles).
In 2016, the Northern Territory introduced "no body, no parole" legislation, meaning he would not have been eligible for parole in 2032 if he did not reveal the location of the remains.
Murdoch had always maintained his innocence, despite DNA evidence linking him to the crime, and unsuccessfully appealed to overturn his convictions twice.
Mr Falconio's parents said that upon hearing of Murdoch's death, their "first feeling was of relief, it's like a weight that's been lifted... We don't want to let him to ruin our lives more than he already has."
Joan and Luciano Falconio added that they are instead focusing on their other children and grandchildren.
"The awful thing is our family's future with Peter was cruelly taken away."
Ms Gwynne told the ABC that it was a "sad day" for Mr Falconio's family, and that "an enormous opportunity" to find his remains had been lost.
"[Murdoch's] silence has denied the Falconio family the closure they have so long deserved," the police statement said.
Watch: Lead investigator into Falconio murder speaks after Bradley Murdoch’s death
The police said in the statement that they remain "committed to resolving this final piece of the investigation", and reiterated that a reward of up to A$500,000 (£240,000) is available for information leading to the discovery of the remains of the murdered British backpacker.The police said in the statement that they remain "committed to resolving this final piece of the investigation", and reiterated that a reward of up to A$500,000 (£240,000) is available for information leading to the discovery of the remains of the murdered British backpacker.
Acting Commander Mark Grieve told a press conference in late June that police had "made numerous approaches" to Murdoch, but that "unfortunately... on all occasions he has chosen not to engage with police".Acting Commander Mark Grieve told a press conference in late June that police had "made numerous approaches" to Murdoch, but that "unfortunately... on all occasions he has chosen not to engage with police".
A statement released by Murdoch's family after his death said that he had always denied responsibility for the crimes "from his arrest until his death", and added that "he was much more than the headlines".A statement released by Murdoch's family after his death said that he had always denied responsibility for the crimes "from his arrest until his death", and added that "he was much more than the headlines".
Additional reporting by Tiffany Wertheimer
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