The stepfather of a British backpacker whose boyfriend Peter Falconio was murdered in the Australian outback almost two decades ago has sensationally said he believes the man convicted of killing him is innocent.
Broome mechanic Bradley John Murdoch was convicted of murdering Mr Falconio, 28, and assaulting Joanne Lees, then 27, on a remote stretch of the Stuart Highway near Barrow Creek, north of Alice Springs, in 2001.
He pleaded not guilty to the infamous outback murder and has professed his innocence despite a Northern Territory court sentencing him to life in jail following a DNA match found on Ms Lees’ T-shirt.
Murdoch, now 62, is believed to have hidden Mr Falconio’s body, which has never been found despite extensive searches.
Ms Lees hid in bushland for five hours while Murdoch hunted her with his dog, before she managed to flag down a truck driver.
Speaking from the West Yorkshire town of Huddersfield where the couple grew up, her stepfather Vincent James said his opinion on the case had been swayed by a British documentary series which aired last month.
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Pictured: Peter Falconio with his girlfriend Joanne Lees. Bradley John Murdoch was convicted of murdering Mr Falconio, 28, and assaulting Ms Lees, then 27, on a remote stretch of highway in outback Northern Territory in 2001
‘I’m convinced Bradley Murdoch is innocent, I didn’t at the time but I do now,’ Mr James told News Corp.
The series entitled Murder in the Outback – broadcast on the UK’s Channel 4 – left viewers stunned by the claim Mr Falconio ‘faked his own death’ to commit insurance fraud.
‘I watched the program and [from] all the forensic evidence it would appear that he’s not guilty,’ the stepfather said.
‘At the time when I was there I thought he was guilty but now I don’t.’
Ms Lees reportedly still owns property in Huddersfield but is rarely seen in the town – located about 22km south-west of Leeds in northern England.
Mr Falconio’s parents also still live there and have spent much of the past two decades dedicated to finding his body.
L-R: Mr Falconio’s father Luciano, his brother Paul Falconio and Ms Lees’ stepfather Vincent James attend a press conference in 2001. Mr James has said he believes the man convicted of killing the 28-year-old backpacker is innocent
In June’s episode of Murder in the Outback, a former defence lawyer made a shocking claim from one of Peter’s friends who said the backpacker was ‘capable of faking his own death and committing life insurance fraud’.
Police in Australia have discounted suggestions Mr Falconio faked his own death.
The lawyer, Andrew Fraser, said a person claiming to be a friend of Mr Falconio’s suggested he had committed life insurance fraud.
He told the cameras: ‘One such theory that came to our attention is that Peter Falconio may have faked his own disappearance.
Australia’s infamous ‘backpacker killer’ Bradley John Murdoch, 62, is surrounded by police as he arrives at Darwin airport following his arrest in 2003
‘It’s a statement that comes from somebody who describes himself as a mate of Peter’s. And that statement paints a picture of Peter Falconio that many people may find surprising.’
The anonymous friend – who was working three nights a week for an insurance company – told Australian authorities that the backpacker was known as ‘dodgy Pete’ because he was always known for scamming.
He explained he’d chatted to Peter about how people were taking out life insurance policy cover for a couple of months before going to a foreign country and putting in a false claim.
In a statement, the unnamed friend said: ‘There is no doubt in my mind that Peter Falconio is capable of carrying out the scam.
‘I would not be in the least bit surprised if he attempted to defraud a life insurance policy just for the money. Before he went away he told me he had taken out a policy.’
Last year, Murdoch was diagnosed with cancer, triggering a last-ditch attempt from police to elicit a confession in exchange for moving him to a prison closer to his family.
Mr Falconio and Ms Lees in happier times. Despite claims made on a British documentary series in June, Australian police have discounted suggestions Mr Falconio faked his own death
Murdoch (pictured) was found guilty in 2005 of the murder of the British backpacker and the assault of his girlfriend
The murderer is being held in the Darwin Correctional Centre where he spends his days in the kitchen as a pastry chef and has become known for his desserts.
He was diagnosed with cancer in 2019, according to the NT News.
Police hope the ‘backpacker killer’ will reveal where he buried the body in exchange for being transferred from his Northern Territory jail to a Western Australian prison to be closer to his family as he battles cancer.
Murdoch can apply for parole from 2033 but unless he reveals the location of Mr Falconio’s body, the application will be denied.