Police hope new photos will jog memories in investigation of murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio

Northern Territory force reopens evidence boxes in attempt to close investigation after 25 years Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Northern Territory police have reopened evidence boxes to reveal several previously unseen photographs from the investigation into the murder of the British backpacker Peter Falconio and attempted abduction of his girlfriend, Joanne Lees. Tuesday is the 25th anniversary of the outback disappearance, which still resonates as one of Australia’s most horrific and culturally defining crimes. It carries unanswered questions for Falconio’s family. Bradley John Murdoch was convicted of the 28-year-old’s murder but he died on 15 July 2025 without admitting to what he had done or disclosing the location of Falconio’s remains. In an effort to reinvigorate the case, NT police have released images, including one that shows a stunned-looking Lees in the hours after her encounter with Murdoch on a remote part of the Stuart Highway on the fateful evening of 14 July 2001. She narrowly managed to escape him and, in doing so, probably saved her own life. Another shows Murdoch as photographed by police, staring back at the camera. Footage was earlier