Falconio killer to mount appeal

Murdoch consistently denied responsibility for the killing

The man jailed for killing British backpacker Peter Falconio in the Australian outback has been told he can appeal against his conviction.

Bradley John Murdoch, 47, was sentenced to at least 28 years in prison after being convicted of murder in December.

He was also found guilty of abducting Mr Falconio's girlfriend, Joanne Lees, of Brighton, in the July 2001 attack.

A Darwin judge granted Murdoch leave to appeal against his sentence, which his lawyers described as "excessive".

But the judge said Murdoch could not appeal his four-year concurrent sentence for the assault and kidnapping of Miss Lees.

No motive

His appeal is expected to be heard in the next six months.

Mr Falconio, 28, of Hepworth, Huddersfield, was killed on an outback road north of Alice Springs in 2001.

Murdoch shot him dead before threatening Ms Lees with a gun and tying her up.

She managed to escape and hide in the bush for more than five hours before being rescued.

Mr Falconio was never seen again and no body has been found.

Murdoch always denied he was the killer and no motive for the attack has been established.