The final moments of a well-known Australian outback murderer who carried his secrets to his deathbed will undergo scrutiny in a significant development.
A one-day hearing is scheduled next month to investigate the passing of Bradley Murdoch, a 67-year-old individual convicted of the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio. Despite his conviction, Murdoch consistently professed his innocence until succumbing to throat cancer. The Australian authorities announced the upcoming inquest, set for March 19.
The possibility of unveiling new details concerning Mr. Falconio’s demise remains uncertain. In 2001, Mr. Falconio met his tragic end in the isolated Barrow Creek region over 200 miles north of Alice Springs, and his body remains unrecovered to this day.
The one-day inquest will be overseen by Northern Territory coroner Elisabeth Armitage. The scope of the inquiry was not elaborated on, except for its focus on a “death in custody” matter.
Murdoch passed away in a palliative care facility in Alice Springs last July. Just before his death, the Northern Territory Police doubled the reward sum for any information related to the case to £250,000. Acting Commander Mark Grieve mentioned that Murdoch did not cooperate with the authorities regarding the case before his demise.
Despite appealing his conviction twice and being denied special leave by the High Court, Murdoch clung to hope of overturning his guilt through a “petition for mercy” in his final days, as disclosed by his family posthumously. Regrettably, the petition did not materialize, delivering a significant blow to Murdoch, according to his family’s statement.
In 2016, the Northern Territory government enacted the “no body, no parole” legislation, effectively condemning Murdoch to a lifetime behind bars unless the location of Mr. Falconio’s remains is discovered. Murdoch had been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 28 years. In response to Murdoch’s passing, Peter’s parents expressed relief, stating that the weight of the situation had lifted off their shoulders.
The family extended gratitude to the Australian authorities for their continued efforts in investigating Peter’s murder. Murdoch was remembered by his family as more than just his criminal past, highlighting his role as a devoted family man who took pride in his grandchildren.
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