Bradley John Murdoch, murderer of British tourist Peter Falconio, yelled at police to ‘get out’ before he died in hospital | Crime – Australia

Notorious country killer Bradley John Murdoch shouted at police to “get out” as he lay dying in hospital and refused to reveal where he hid the backpacker he shot to death on a remote motorway until the last minute.

Northern Territory coroner Elisabeth Armitage concluded the inquest into the 66-year-old’s death from throat cancer in Alice Springs hospital’s palliative care unit on July 16, 2025, on Thursday.

Murdoch was serving a life sentence for the murder of 28-year-old British backpacker Peter Falconio and the attack and attempted kidnapping of his girlfriend Joanne Lees, now 52, ​​on the Stuart Highway near Barrow Creek in July 2001.

While the backpackers were traveling on the highway, Murdoch came up behind them and told them that there might be a problem with the engine of their minibus and that they should pull over.

Falconio went with him to the back of the car to investigate, and Lees heard a gunshot. Murdoch then bound her with cable and covered her head.

He escaped and hid in woodland for five hours before tipping off a truck driver while Murdoch hunted him down with his dog.

Murdoch was arrested in November 2003 over Falconio’s disappearance after a jury in South Australia acquitted him of raping and falsely imprisoning a 12-year-old girl.

The SA case led to Lee’s arrest, allowing NT police to obtain his DNA, which was later found on the makeshift handcuffs Lees was wearing and on his T-shirt.

Murdoch maintained his innocence and refused to reveal where he hid Falconio’s body.

The lawyer assisting Chrissy McConnel told the inquest in Alice Springs on Thursday that Supt Bill Carroll and two other police officers visited Murdoch in prison a few weeks before he died.

They were making a last-ditch effort to locate Falconio’s remains. They hoped to show Murdoch a video that Falconio’s parents had made with the help of UK police.

“When officers arrived at the prison to speak to Mr. Murdoch, he stated his innocence and refused to watch the video,” McConnell said.

Police visited Murdoch again days before he died, in the palliative care unit where prison guards watched him 24 hours a day. But officers were only at his bedside for about 30 seconds.

“Mr Murdoch did not speak to the officers, instead shouting at them to ‘get out’,” McConnel said.

The investigation stated that Murdoch was a mechanic and a truck driver before completing numerous courses, including furniture making, engineering and hotel management, during his 22-year prison sentence.

“Mr. Murdoch was thought to be courteous and respectful towards other inmates and correctional officers,” the investigation said.

However, after he was diagnosed with cancer, he occasionally became verbally abusive to doctors and nurses because he felt he was not receiving the right treatment.

He received chemotherapy but refused radiotherapy and signed a declaration that he would be allowed to die naturally in the event of a medical emergency.

The inquest heard Murdoch’s son and other family members raised concerns about his medical treatment.

But the coroner said on Thursday he was satisfied Murdoch received quality and timely medical care.

“I am also pleased that he was treated thoughtfully and compassionately by medical and corrections staff.”

Falconio’s parents expressed relief at Murdoch’s death in July 2025, saying “it’s like a weight has been lifted.”

“We didn’t have much faith, but we were hoping that Bradley John Murdoch would reveal Peter’s whereabouts before he died,” Luciano and Joan Falconio said at the time. “But even now we remain hopeful that his remains may be found.”

A reward of up to $500,000 will be offered to anyone who provides information leading to the discovery of Falconio’s remains.