‘Think about if Peter Falconio was your son’: new footage shows last-ditch attempt to have Australian outback killer confess | The Peter Falconio murder case

Notorious killer Bradley John Murdoch aggressively denied knowing the whereabouts of still-missing backpacker Peter Falconio’s body during police interrogation weeks before he died.

NT Police released body-worn camera footage of the interview on Saturday, days before the 25th anniversary of the 28-year-old Briton’s murder on the Stuart Highway near Barrow Creek in July 2001.

Murdoch was sentenced to life in prison for murdering Falconio and attempting to kidnap his girlfriend Joanne Lees, but maintained his innocence and refused to reveal where he hid the body.

He died of throat cancer in Alice Springs hospital in July 2025.

Less than a month ago NT Police made a last-ditch attempt to extract a confession from Murdoch and get him to reveal the whereabouts of Falconio’s body.

“I want you to consider whether Peter Falconio is your son and whether someone knows something about the whereabouts of his body,” a police officer reportedly told Murdoch. he was heard asking.

“Don’t fuck around because I’m going to cut you short every time, okay?” Murdoch replied to this.

“I don’t know anything. I’ve been saying this for 22 years. I don’t know anything.”

After asking Murdoch to think about his answer, the officer launched into a profane tirade vehemently denying any information.

“I don’t think about it. I thought and thought about it for 22 fucking years,” he said.

“I’ve been with these guys for 22 years. They all understand what happened, I’ve told the same story over and over, and now you’re here at the last minute because I’m dying.”

The incident in July 2001 attracted worldwide attention and partly inspired the horror film Wolf Creek.

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.

NT Police are offering a $500,000 reward for anyone who learns the whereabouts of Falconio’s body and are urging anyone with information to come forward.

“Twenty-five years is a significant milestone and NT Police remains committed to bringing this investigation to its full conclusion and will continue to pursue every avenue available,” police said in a statement.

“There may still be someone out there who knows something, whether it’s information they haven’t previously shared with the police or something Murdoch told them.”