Falconio evidence planting denied

The body of Mr Falconio has never been found

A detective has denied in court that he planted evidence to incriminate the man accused of shooting Peter Falconio dead in Australia.

Det Sgt David Chalker denied leaving DNA of Bradley Murdoch on cable ties which were allegedly used to handcuff Mr Falconio's girlfriend Joanne Lees.

He told defence lawyer Grant Algie that he found the claim "quite offensive".

Mr Murdoch, 47, denies murdering Mr Falconio, 28, and abducting Ms Lees, 32, on 14 July 2001.

Mr Algie had claimed police could have planted the evidence when they visited Mr Murdoch in prison in Adelaide in October 2002.

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But Det Sgt Chalker said: "I really find that quite offensive that you would suggest that, and no I did not."

He said the bag containing the ties had remained closed throughout the discussion, and that the ties were not shown to the defendant.

Ms Lees, of Brighton, earlier told the court she and Mr Falconio were flagged down by Mr Murdoch while they were driving across the outback north of Alice Springs.

He is then alleged to have shot the backpacker and bundled his girlfriend into the back of his van, binding her in makeshift handcuffs.

Ms Lees said she later escaped and hid in the undergrowth for five hours until her abductor gave up searching for her and left.

The body of Mr Falconio, from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, has never been found.

The trial continues on Monday.