New body-worn footage released by Northern Territory police shows convicted killer John Murdoch refusing to reveal where he hid the remains of British backpacker Peter Falconio. The video, recorded weeks before Murdoch died of throat cancer last year while serving a life sentence, captures a police officer urging him to consider the victim's family.
Police appeal for information
In the footage, an officer says: 'I need you to have a think about if Peter Falconio was your son … and somebody knew something about where his body was.' Murdoch responds: 'Don't beat around the bush because I'm just going to cut you short every time OK? I know nothing. I've said this for 22 years. I know nothing.' When pressed further, he adds: 'I'm not thinking about it. I've thought about it, I thought about it for 22 f*****g years.'
Background of the case
Peter Falconio, 28, from Huddersfield, was shot dead on a remote stretch of road near Barrow Creek in Australia's Northern Territory on July 14, 2001. He was traveling with his girlfriend Joanne Lees when Murdoch pulled up beside them, claiming to have seen sparks from their van. Murdoch shot Falconio in the head as he inspected the vehicle, then forced Lees into his own vehicle and bound her wrists with cable ties. Lees managed to escape and hid in the scrub for several hours before flagging down a passing truck.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Murdoch likely disposed of Falconio's body somewhere in the vast desert expanse between Alice Springs and Broome, covering over 1,200 miles. Despite repeated searches, Falconio's body has never been found. Murdoch lodged several unsuccessful appeals, with Australia's highest court refusing to hear his case in 2007.
Police statement and family reaction
After Murdoch's death, Northern Territory police issued a statement saying: 'It is deeply regrettable that Murdoch has died without, as far as we are aware, ever disclosing the location of Peter Falconio's remains. His silence has denied the Falconio family the closure they have so long deserved.' Peter Falconio's father, Luciano Falconio, told Newscorp: 'I wish he (Murdoch) left something for me to find him.'
Joanne Lees, who returned to the UK, told Australian programme 60 Minutes in 2017: 'Pete lost his life on that night, but I lost mine too. I'll never be fully at peace if Pete's not found, but I accept that that is a possibility.'
