Notorious backpacker killer Bradley John Murdoch has died in prison after suffering throat cancer.
“I can confirm that Bradley Murdoch passed away last night in the palliative care unit at Alice Springs Hospital,” a Department of Corrections spokesperson said.
“The death will be subject to investigation by the Northern Territory Coroner.”
Murdoch was serving a life sentence for the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio on the night of July 14, 2001.
He waved down Falconio, and Falconio’s girlfriend Joanne Lees, when they were travelling in a Kombi van on the Stuart Highway, over 250km north of Alice Springs.
Murdoch, who was driving a white ute with a green canopy, told the couple he had seen sparks flying from their exhaust, prompting them to pull over.
Murdoch then shot Falconio and bound Lees’ hands, and put her in the back of his ute.
However, she was able to escape, possibly when Murdoch was moving Falconio’s body.
At Murdoch’s trial years later, Lees described hearing something scraping along the ground while Murdoch was out of sight, prompting her to flee and hide nearby.
She evaded re-capture despite Murdoch lingering in the area for several hours to try to find her.
Lees was later able to flag down another driver who took her to safety after midnight that same night.
Murdoch was convicted of Falconio’s murder in 2005 and sentenced to life in prison.
He maintained his innocence and has never revealed the location of Falconio’s body.
Blood had previously been found at the spot where Falconio was believed to be shot, but no other trace was located.
Police recently increased the reward for information leading to the recovery of Falconio’s remains to $500,000, saying that Murdoch had not been forthcoming despite repeated approaches during his sentence.
“On all occasions, he’s chosen not to positively engage with police,” NT Police AActing Commander Mark Grieve said at the time of the reward increase.
He also described Murdoch as being “not very forthcoming” when police have questioned him over Falconio’s remains.
“There may be someone out there that he’s confided in, whether or not that’s family or friends, we just don’t know,” Grieve added.
Murdoch had developed throat cancer in recent years.
NT officials previously refused to deny reports he had been permitted outings into the community and even back to the prison to say his goodbyes in recent weeks.
