British backpacker killer granted leave to appeal

The man who killed British backpacker Peter Falconio in the Australian outback was today granted leave to appeal against his …

The man who killed British backpacker Peter Falconio in the Australian outback was today granted leave to appeal against his conviction and life sentence, according to reports.

In December, a jury unanimously convicted Bradley Murdoch (47) of murdering Mr Falconio, assaulting his girlfriend, Joanne Lees, and attempting to abduct her at a remote spot north of Alice Springs in July 2001.

Murdoch will serve a minimum of 20 years in jail.

A former mechanic from the Australian coastal town of Broome, Murdoch was taking a 10kg consignment of marijuana 2,000 miles across Australia when he spotted the British couple.

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They were driving a battered orange camper van around the country as part of a round-the-world trip.