Man who murdered British backpacker Peter Falconio dies

Bradley Murdoch, the Australian man convicted of murdering British backpacker Peter Falconio in 2001, has died.

Murdoch, 67, was serving a life sentence at a prison in Alice Springs, in Australia’s Northern Territory.

He was being treated at hospital in Alice Springs in recent weeks for terminal throat cancer.

The Northern Territory Department of Corrections told the BBC there had been a death of a man in custody.

In 2005, Murdoch was convicted of murdering Mr Falconio, but had never revealed the location of his body.

Mr Falconio was shot dead on a remote stretch of highway near the Northern Territory town of Barrow Creek, about 300km (186 miles) north of Alice Springs in July 2001.

The 28-year-old was travelling around Australia with his girlfriend, Joanne Lees, also from the UK, at the time.

Murdoch was also convicted of the attempted kidnap and assault of Ms Lees, who managed to escape by hiding in outback scrub for several hours before she was able to signal for help.

Murdoch was 43 when he committed the crimes.

The ordeal partly inspired the 2001 horror film Wolf Creek.

Last month police in Australia announced a new reward of up to A$500,000 (£240,000) for information leading to the discovery of the remains of the murdered British backpacker.

Acting Commander Mark Grieve of Northern Territory Police told a press conference in late June: “Police still hold out hope that someone might be able to provide some vital information to assist in this search.”

“We recognise the passage of time that has transpired but it is never to late to reach out and start that conversation with police,” Grieve said.

He said in that press conference police had “made numerous approaches” to Murdoch, including in June, but said that “unfortunately… on all occasions he has chosen not to engage with police”.

Acting Commander Grieve said he wanted to “try and at least bring some sliver of resolution to Peter’s family by bringing home his remains” – and said they had spoken to family about the reward.