Falconio Accused Changed 4wd And Own Appearance, Five Witnesses Say
Sydney Morning Herald
Tuesday August 10, 2004
The man accused of murdering Peter Falconio had changed the appearance of his four-wheel-drive vehicle in the weeks after the British backpacker disappeared, witnesses have told the Darwin Magistrates Court.
A mechanic, Robin Knox, testified that Bradley John Murdoch's Toyota LandCruiser was "spotless" when he brought it into his workshop in Broome in August 2001."It just seemed very clean, like it had been rebuilt or cleaned right up," Mr Knox said.Murdoch, 45, is charged with the murder of Mr Falconio, 28, and the deprivation of liberty and unlawful assault of his girlfriend, Joanne Lees.The prosecution has alleged that after shooting Mr Falconio on a remote stretch of the Stuart Highway in the Northern Territory on the night of July 14, 2001, Murdoch returned to Broome, where he lived, and immediately started changing his appearance and that of his vehicle.Mr Knox and four other witnesses gave evidence by video-link from Broome about work Murdoch had done on his vehicle.Michael Somerville, a welder from Broome, testified that Murdoch paid him to make alterations to the tray of his vehicle around July 27, 2001.Murdoch also bought material to build a new canopy on the rear of the vehicle, he told the court.He also said Murdoch had shaved his moustache off.Other witnesses said Murdoch had painted the vehicle's wheels and changed its bullbar.Murdoch has not been required to enter a plea during the hearing, which is expected to continue for another two weeks.Magistrate Alasdair McGregor will then decide if there is sufficient evidence to commit Murdoch to trial by jury.The hearing resumed yesterday after a nine-week break.
© 2004 Sydney Morning Herald