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No new police search for Peter Falconio despite writer believing body is in well Peter Falconio site claims: NT police still awaiting information
(35 minutes later)
Northern Territory police have not been approached with any new information about the location of Peter Falconio’s body despite the current affairs program Today Tonight airing a story claiming to have uncovered new evidence regarding the English backpacker’s murder.Northern Territory police have not been approached with any new information about the location of Peter Falconio’s body despite the current affairs program Today Tonight airing a story claiming to have uncovered new evidence regarding the English backpacker’s murder.
The evidence referred to by the program was from a crime writer, Peter Jackson, who said an unnamed friend had seen a truck matching one driven by Falconio’s killer, Bradley Murdoch, on the night of the murder in 2001.The evidence referred to by the program was from a crime writer, Peter Jackson, who said an unnamed friend had seen a truck matching one driven by Falconio’s killer, Bradley Murdoch, on the night of the murder in 2001.
Jackson believes Falconio’s body is in a well at Neutral Junction Station, a property of more than a million acres, which he believes police have not searched.Jackson believes Falconio’s body is in a well at Neutral Junction Station, a property of more than a million acres, which he believes police have not searched.
Jackson said his friend did not know about the murder until 2005 because he lived in a remote area and did not read newspapers.Jackson said his friend did not know about the murder until 2005 because he lived in a remote area and did not read newspapers.
He did not say why he has waited until 2014 to come forward with the claim, or why his friend did not come forward himself.He did not say why he has waited until 2014 to come forward with the claim, or why his friend did not come forward himself.
A spokeswoman for Northern Territory police said Today Tonight did not approach them with any of the claims, and nobody had made a new complaint to police.A spokeswoman for Northern Territory police said Today Tonight did not approach them with any of the claims, and nobody had made a new complaint to police.
“NT Police followed up all relevant areas and sightings thoroughly and searched all areas of interest received from substantive information,” she said.“NT Police followed up all relevant areas and sightings thoroughly and searched all areas of interest received from substantive information,” she said.
“If anyone has any information about the whereabouts of Peter Falconio they are obliged to bring it to police attention urgently.”“If anyone has any information about the whereabouts of Peter Falconio they are obliged to bring it to police attention urgently.”
The spokeswoman said any new information would be taken seriously but the claims on Today Tonight seemed unfounded. She said there had not been a fresh search for Peter Falconio’s body.The spokeswoman said any new information would be taken seriously but the claims on Today Tonight seemed unfounded. She said there had not been a fresh search for Peter Falconio’s body.
British backpacker Falconio, 28, and his girlfriend Joanne Lees, were travelling around Australia in 2001 when Murdoch flagged them down about 320km from Alice Springs saying smoke was coming from their van.British backpacker Falconio, 28, and his girlfriend Joanne Lees, were travelling around Australia in 2001 when Murdoch flagged them down about 320km from Alice Springs saying smoke was coming from their van.
He then shot Falconio in the head and put Lees in the back of his truck after taping her hands together, blindfolding her and putting a sack over her head. She managed to escape and hid for hours in scrub while Murdoch looked for her with a dog.He then shot Falconio in the head and put Lees in the back of his truck after taping her hands together, blindfolding her and putting a sack over her head. She managed to escape and hid for hours in scrub while Murdoch looked for her with a dog.
Falconio’s body has never been found and Murdoch was convicted of the murder in 2005 with his DNA being found on Lee’s T-shirt and the van’s gearstick.Falconio’s body has never been found and Murdoch was convicted of the murder in 2005 with his DNA being found on Lee’s T-shirt and the van’s gearstick.
He is making a second appeal on the grounds that Lees had been “groomed” to give evidence.He is making a second appeal on the grounds that Lees had been “groomed” to give evidence.
Jackson told Today Tonight his friend was sure of the date he saw the truck on the station from a road train, because it was the day of the Camel Cup in Alice Springs and he was upset he was not there.Jackson told Today Tonight his friend was sure of the date he saw the truck on the station from a road train, because it was the day of the Camel Cup in Alice Springs and he was upset he was not there.
"What are the chances a vehicle looking like Murdoch's is going to be at that area, at that time, one hour 20 minutes after the murder, which happened 2.5km away?” Jackson said."What are the chances a vehicle looking like Murdoch's is going to be at that area, at that time, one hour 20 minutes after the murder, which happened 2.5km away?” Jackson said.
Today Tonight hired forensic experts and abseilers to look in the well, which has 14m of water in it.Today Tonight hired forensic experts and abseilers to look in the well, which has 14m of water in it.
At the end of the Today Tonight segment they showed it raining in the area and said they would return when it was drier.At the end of the Today Tonight segment they showed it raining in the area and said they would return when it was drier.
Today Tonight have been contacted for comment.Today Tonight have been contacted for comment.