Outline: The Case Of Bradley John Murdoch

Outline

The case of Bradley John Murdoch is a high-profile criminal case that occurred in the Northern Territory, Australia. Murdoch was convicted of abducting and killing British backpacker Peter Falconio as well as the assault and attempted abduction of Joanne Lees, Falconio’s girlfriend, on Saturday, 14th July 2001. After setting off from Ti Tree on their way towards Darwin, Falconio and Lees were flagged down a few kilometres north of Barrow Creek (as depicted in ) on the Stuart Highway by a man in a white 4-wheel drive vehicle (allegedly Murdoch), telling them that there was an issue with their exhaust pipe. When Falconio stepped out to inspect the supposed issue, Murdoch allegedly shot him and a short while later moved towards Lees who

Primarily, apart from the previously discussed issues regarding the evidence and technology used, the issues consisted of the fact that there was no body ever found, making it difficult to examine the exact circumstances of the crime and whether the crime occurred entirely, relying on a few bloodstains and unclear CCTV footage (as seen in Figure 3). In relation to this issue, another problem was the previously aforementioned heavy reliance on the eyewitness testimony of Joanne Lees. While crucial to the investigation, eyewitness testimonies may be subject to inconsistencies, memory lapses and potential bias, all of which were concerns during the trial. Finally, the high-profile nature of the case garnered widespread media attention. The extensive media coverage had the potential to influence public opinions which in turn may have impacted the trial

Due to the significant media coverage surrounding the case, changes in legislation and enforcement were made in a few different areas. The most significant outcome that was introduced following the case was the “no body, no parole” legislation. Initially, the legislation was only passed in a few states, with the Northern Territory (where the crime occurred) passing it in 2016. This was aimed partially at the Falconio case, pressuring Murdoch to reveal the whereabouts of Falconio’s body. Currently, most states have a law of similar calibre in place with most recently the NSW Government introducing the Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Amendment (No Body, No Parole) Bill 2022 into the Legislative Assembly on 21 September 2022. Apart from the effect the Falconio case had on pushing for the introduction of this legislation around Australia, it has also prompted improvements in road safety and crime prevention, particularly in remote areas. Measures such as increased police presence and patrols on highways, the installation of security cameras, and the implementation of safety procedures for travellers have been put in place in an effort to prevent another case like this from