'Outback killer' to make 'explosive' deathbed declaration after murdering Brit

An Aussie Outback killer who brutally killed a British backpacker could soon make an "explosive" statement as he nears death.

Bradley John Murdoch, who is dying from terminal throat cancer, is serving a life sentence for killingPeter Falconio and attacking his girlfriend, Joanne Lees, on a remote highway in the Northern Territory back in 2001. Mr Falconio, 28, and his partner, both from Yorkshire, were on a road trip in their VW Kombi campervan between Alice Springs and Darwin when they were flagged down by Murdoch and attacked.

Mr Falconio was fatally shot in the head while Ms Lees was chucked in the attacker's car with her wrists bound with cable ties. Miraculously she managed to escape and hid in the bushes for five hours before flagging down a passing truck.

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Now, nearly 24 years on, Murdoch is nearing death himself after he was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer in 2019. He was moved to palliative care from Alice Springs Correctional Centre earlier this month and according to true crime author Robin Bowles, who sat down with the killer a few years ago, he could make an “explosive” statement in his final words.

She told 7NEWS: “I know what they are, and they will be explosive. It’s a shame they weren’t able to be released earlier. You can’t sue a dead man, so if he’s making the claims, and he’s died - the proverbial might hit the fan.”

Murdoch has never revealed the location of Mr Falconio's body and in a desperate attempt to find the tourist's remains, Australian police this week announced a huge 500,000 Australian dollar (£238,670) reward for information that leads to the discovery of the British backpacker's remains. Police said ahead of the 24th anniversary of the murder next month they held out 'hope' that someone would now come forward.

Acting Northern Territory Police commander Mark Grieve said: “In what will be the 24th anniversary of (Falconio's) death this July, being next month, we're asking for anyone who may believe they have information that can assist to please come forward and contact police. It's never too late to reach out, and at least start that conversation with police, because you just never know how beneficial that information that you may hold may be. We recognise the passage of time that's transpired, however, it's never too late to reach out and start that conversation with police."

Murdoch, 67, has always denied the killing and protested his innocence during the 2005 murder trial. After seven weeks he was found guilty of murdering Mr Falconio and assaulting and attempting to kidnap Ms Lees.

Northern Territory Police have previously searched swathes of land close to the crime scene but Mr Falconio's remains have never been found. Murdoch was spotted on CCTV at a petrol station in Alice Springs - about 190 miles south of the crime scene - in the hours after the attack.

He is then said to have driven around 800 miles through the night and the following day across the inhospitable Tanami Track, reaching Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia at about 8pm. He was arrested and charged with the murder of Mr Falconio 16 months after the attack, thanks to DNA evidence and Ms Lees identifying him.

Ms Lees, who has since returned to the UK, told Australian current affairs programme 60 Minutes in 2017 she still wanted to "bring him home". "Pete lost his life on that night, but I lost mine too," she said at the time. "I'll never be fully at peace if Pete's not found, but I accept that that is a possibility."