April trial for Falconio suspect

The body of Mr Falconio, pictured with Joanne Lees, was never found

The man accused of killing British tourist Peter Falconio in Australia will stand trial for murder next April.

Bradley Murdoch, 45, will also be tried for the abduction and assault of Mr Falconio's girlfriend, Joanne Lees, in an ambush on a remote highway in 2001.

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

The trial begins on 20 April and is expected to take six weeks according to the Northern Territory's Department of Justice.

Murdoch denies any wrongdoing but has yet to enter a formal plea to the charges.

A magistrates court in Darwin ruled on Wednesday there was sufficient evidence to send him to trial.

He was remanded in custody and will next appear in court for an arraignment hearing on 20 September.

Prosecutors allege Mr Murdoch flagged down the couple's van before shooting Mr Falconio and abducting Miss Lees, who escaped and hid in the bush.