French tourist stabbed to death in layby in Australia outback in front of horrified wife

Man stabbed in the neck on same road where Briton Peter Falconio was murdered 15 years ago
Police investigate the scene of the stabbing in Australia
Isobelle Gidley1 December 2016
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A French tourist has been stabbed to death in front of his horrified wife on the same Australian Outback road where Briton Peter Falconio was murdered 15 years ago.

The 33-year-old tourist died when he was stabbed in the neck in what police described as an “unprovoked attack” after the couple had pulled in to a layby 80 miles north of Alice Springs.

The attack was on the same Stuart Highway in the Northern Territory where Mr Falconio was murdered in 2001.

The British backpacker had been driving with his girlfriend Joanne Lees when he was tricked into pulling over by Bradley John Murdoch and then shot. Ms Lees managed to escape into the bush while Murdoch was moving Mr Falconio’s body.

Murdoch was convicted of murder in 2005 and jailed for a minimum of 28 years. He refused to reveal the location of Mr Falconio’s body, which has never been found.

Peter Falconio was murdered in 2001. His body was never found

The alleged killer of the French tourist, who has yet to be named, was arrested early today after a police chase through rugged bushland.

The travellers had pulled into the rest stop known as Connor Well when they were approached by a 35-year-old man, Detective Superintendent Travis Wurst said in Darwin today.

“The man has allegedly then stabbed the male tourist to the neck in an unprovoked attack.”

Superintendent Wurst said the man’s wife was taken to hospital in Alice Springs where she was being treated for shock.

“As one would expect, the lady is particularly traumatised by this event,” said Superintendent Wurst.

“This is an absolutely devastating occurrence for her and for the family of the man as well.”

The police officer said it was believed the rest stop was empty except for the French couple and the suspect.

Australia’s ABC reported that the wife, 30, flagged down a nurse and her husband in a passing car.

The nurse stayed with the couple while her husband drove more than 20 miles to the nearest roadhouse to raise the alarm late yesterday afternoon.

He reportedly tailed the alleged attacker’s car as he travelled along the highway to the roadhouse.

BJ Gorman, the manager of the Aileron Roadhouse, told ABC that a man came in to call for help.

“We had a fella come in here to call the police, saying there was a stabbing at Connor Well,” he said.

“[He said] some fella, some tourist got stabbed... said another fella did stab him and took off.”

Police were alerted and the alleged attacker’s car was later spotted.

“Police saw that vehicle near Ti Tree; as soon as that vehicle had seen police it stopped and the person ran into the bush,” Detective Superintendent Wurst said.

“Police were quite some distance away at the time, and because of that distance we weren’t able to apprehend him at that time.”

Police stayed in the area overnight and at first light today sent up a helicopter, and found and arrested the man nearby shortly afterwards at 8.30am.

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