Murdoch murder reward will not go to NZer

The New Zealander who dobbed in Bradley John Murdoch to police over the Australian outback murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio isn't collecting a A$250,000 ($287,000) police reward.

Australian media today reported that police were withdrawing the reward offered over Mr Falconio's disappearance from a highway northern of Alice Springs in July 2001.

When giving evidence during Murdoch's trial last November, James Hepi said he would ask for the reward if Murdoch was convicted. Murdoch was found guilty and sentenced to 28 years' jail.

Hepi also told the court that he and Murdoch ran drugs between Broome in Western Australia and Sedan in South Australia in 2001, before falling out with each other at the end of that year.

A Northern Territory police spokeswoman said the reward was being withdrawn because no one had applied for it.

- NZPA