Falconio family 'relief' at DNA link

Nicholas Falconio (left) and brother Paul talking at home

The family of murdered backpacker Peter Falconio say they are hopeful a DNA breakthrough in the case will bring them justice.

Peter's brothers, Nicholas and Paul Falconio, said they were "very positive" about Australian police's decision to name Bradley John Murdoch as a prime suspect in the case.

Peter Falconio with girlfriend Joanne

DNA tests linked Mr Murdoch, 44, to the crime through a blood sample taken from the scene.

Mr Falconio is thought to have been shot in July of last year, after he and girlfriend Joanne Lees were ambushed on a remote desert highway near the northern town of Alice Springs.

Nicholas Falconio, speaking from the family home in Huddersfield, said they had been waiting 15 months for such a breakthrough.

But he added: "It is just the start of the end really.

"It is going to take a long time, we know that.

"We will probably be waiting months and months from now."

He said relatives most wanted to know where Peter's body was.

The family is expected to fly out to Australia in the near future, they also revealed.

Arrest warrant

Bradley Murdoch has so far used his right to silence and refused to answer police questions at the Adelaide jail where he is being held on separate rape and abduction charges.

Police are also examining items taken from the engineer's home.

Police will not rely on DNA to prosecute Mr Murdoch

Assistant Commissioner John Daulby said police were "unable to exclude him" from their investigations and would be seeking a warrant for his arrest over the murder.

The attack led to one of the biggest police operations that Australia has ever seen, but no trace of 28-year-old Mr Falconio's body has never been found.

Mr Daulby said his officers "will be examining a number of significant items seized from the property of this person (Mr Murdoch)".

Although we have reached a significant point in the investigation we will still be seeking closure... we need to find the body

Assistant Commissioner John Daulby

He added: "We have made an attempt to interview this person but he chose to retain his right to remain silent and he said nothing in that interview."

Mr Daulby said police would not rely on DNA evidence and that they still wanted to know more about the activities of Mr Murdoch around the time of Mr Falconio's disappearance.

He said that a new search for Mr Falconio's body could be ordered if fresh information became available.

"Although we have reached a significant point in the investigation we will still be seeking closure... we need to find the body", he added.

'Happy but sad'

During the attack Ms Lees was tied up and thrown in the back of a pick-up truck.

She managed to escape and hide in the desert from the attacker and his dog before she found help.

Ms Lees, 27, would have to return to Australia for any trial connected to Mr Falconio's death.

Police in the Northern Territory have effectively begun steps to extradite Mr Murdoch, from Broome in Western Australia, to face the Falconio charges.

Mr Murdoch is currently being held in the state of South Australia in connection with the abduction and rape of a 12-year-old girl and her mother.

Officials there are still to decide whether to allow a murder trial in the Northern Territory jurisdiction to go ahead.

The South Australian director of public prosecutions has said he wants to talk to the victims first, before making a decision.

Some legal experts have argued that the most serious crime - the murder of Peter Falconio - would take precedence.