Human remains found in Outback to be tested in search for murdered British backpacker Peter Falconio - reports

The 28-year-old was murdered in 2001 but his killer Bradley Murdoch has never revealed the location of his body
Peter Falconio and girlfriend Joanne Lees were travelling in their camper van when they were pulled over and Mr Falconio was shot dead
PA
Lydia Chantler-Hicks17 February 2023

Human remains discovered in Australia are to be tested to see if they belong to a British backpacker murdered in 2001 whose body has never been found, according to reports.

Bradley Murdoch was convicted in 2005 of murdering Peter Falconio, 28, and assaulting his girlfriend Joanne Lees at gunpoint on a remote stretch of highway near Barrow Creek, around 200 miles north of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, on July 14, 2001.

Murdoch is believed to have hidden Mr Falconio’s body, which has never been found despite extensive searches.

But remains newly discovered in the Outback in Alice Springs are now to be tested to see if they are a match for Mr Falconio, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Peter Falconio and his girlfriend Joanne Lees in Australia

According to the newspaper, the remains were found this week and are being tested because their age and location could be consistent with the time and area in which Mr Falconio was killed.

A detective reportedly told The Sydney Morning Herald: “We have been down this track before so we are not jumping to any conclusions.”

It is thought forensics specialists will use Mr Falconio’s DNA and dental records to see if there is a match.

Mr Falconio and Ms Lees were driving towards Darwin on a remote highway in 2001 when their camper van was flagged down by Murdoch, a drug dealer.

Murdoch shot dead 28-year-old Mr Falconio before handcuffing Ms Lees and dragging her into his vehicle. Ms Lees fought off the attacker and ran for her life.

Peter Falconio was murdered in 2001, but his body was never found

Ms Lees returned to the Outback for the first time in 15 years in February 2017 in the hope of finding Mr Falconio’s body.

The then 43-year-old, from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, said she wanted to “bring him home” as she returned to the scene of the shooting for an Australian television show special.

She fought back tears as she added: “It’s because I love Pete so much and I want to bring him home and I need to bring him home.”

Flying in a helicopter in the area he was murdered, north of Alice Springs, Ms Lees said: “I know that he’s somewhere here.”

Murdoch was convicted of Mr Falconio’s murder in 2006, largely on DNA evidence which included a spot of Ms Lees’ blood on his T-shirt.

Murdoch is serving a life prison sentence. He has always protested his innocence.

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