Key witness in Falconio case claims Murdoch is innocent

Bradley John Murdoch is led through the compound at the Adelaide Magistrates court, Australia. Photo / AP

A key witness in the murder case of Peter Falconio 15 years ago claims the British backpacker's convicted killer is innocent.

Mr Falconio disappeared and was never seen again while travelling through the Australian outback with his girlfriend, Joanne Lees, in 2001.

Bradley John Murdoch was sentenced to a minimum of 28 years in prison over the tourist's murder, but Aileron Roadhouse manager Greg Dick believes another man whom he saw Ms Lees speaking to is the killer.

'I saw her speak to somebody outside my place. I didn't take any notice of them until well and truly after it,' he told NT News.

Mr Dick said he saw Ms Lees jump up and start speaking to the man at the Stuart Highway roadhouse, 100km north of Alice Springs, on July 14, 2001 - the same day the British man was murdered.

'He looked like a person who could live in the bush. Live off the land. A very clean, neat fella,' Mr Dick said.

'He was going to a good place where he could have disposed of the body. I've got a lot on my mind of it, but there you go.'

Joanne Lees, former girlfriend of missing British backpacker Peter Falconio, arrives in Darwin, Australia. Photo / AP

He recalls specific details including how the man complained over the price of a bottle of Coke and bought a meat pie for his dog.

Mr Dick also believes he saw the couple's distinctive orange Kombi van at Aileron, 100km south of Ti Tree, where they bought fuel and watched the renowned outback sunset.

He says he is certain about one thing - the man he saw Ms Lees speaking to was not Murdoch.

'I still reckon they've jailed the wrong man,' he said.

The British man, then 28, and his girlfriend had been directed to pull over on the dark July night in 2001.

When the man spoke to the couple he told them there was a problem with their Kombi.

Mr Falconio went to the back of the car to check it out and was never seen again.
It is believed he was shot dead after Ms Lees said she heard a gun go off.

She was threatened with a gun and restrained with cable-tie handcuffs before escaping and hiding in the bushes for several hours until she was able to flag down help.

A TV cameraman films the camper van belonging to Joanne Lees and her British boyfriend Peter Falconio. Photo / AP

A day after the couple was attacked, police found a pool of Mr Falconio's blood covered in dirt beside the highway near Barrow Creek.

Following years of investigation Murdoch was charged with the murder in November 2003.

He was then found guilty and given a life sentence, with a minimum 28-year non-parole period, during his 2005 Northern Territory Supreme Court trial.

Mr Dick was a witness at Murdoch's murder trial.

The bush mechanic won't ever be released unless he reveals the location of the British backpacker's body.

But Mr Dick believes the convicted killer has no idea of the whereabouts of Mr Falconio's remains.

The roadhouse manager believes the tourist's body would be up in the ranges of 'Policeman's Waterhole' in Davenport Range National Park.

He told NT News that the area contains many mineshafts and was reportedly where the mysterious man he saw talking to Ms Lees was going to camp.

The haunting events of 15 years ago hold an eerie resemblance to an attack on a French tourist in recent weeks at a Connors Well rest stop, 30km south of Mr Dick's Aileron roadhouse.

French tourist Phileppe Jegouzohe, 33, was fatally stabbed in the neck in front of his 30-year-old wife, Aurélie Chorier near the isolated rest stop on the Stuart Highway.

Melbourne man Pande Veleski has been accused of the murder.