Notorious outback murderer Bradley Murdoch refused to watch video from Peter Falconio's parents, inquest hears
Bradley Murdoch was sentenced to life in prison in 2005 for the murder of Peter Falconio and the attempted kidnapping of Joanne Lees, with a non-parole period of 28 years. (AAP)
In short:
A one-day coronial inquest into the death of infamous outback murderer Bradley Murdoch has finished in Alice Springs.
The inquest heard police made two attempts to convince Murdoch to reveal the location of British tourist Peter Falconio's remains in the weeks leading up to his death.
What's next?
The coroner found Murdoch received "high quality and timely" medical care and made no formal recommendations.
Details about a desperate attempt by police to convince outback murderer Bradley Murdoch to reveal the location of his victim's remains days before he died have been revealed during a coronial inquest into Murdoch's death.
Murdoch died in palliative care at Alice Springs Hospital in July last year from stage-four cancer, 22 years into a life prison sentence for the death of British backpacker Peter Falconio.
Murdoch was convicted of fatally shooting Mr Falconio near the remote Central Australian town of Barrow Creek in 2001.
He never revealed the location of the backpacker's body and always maintained his innocence.
Peter Falconio and his girlfriend Joanne Lees were attacked by Bradley Murdoch on the Stuart Highway on July 14, 2001. (AAP)
Murdoch was also convicted of assaulting and attempting to kidnap Mr Falconio's girlfriend, Joanne Lees, who managed to escape into bushland.
Murdoch refused to watch video by Falconio's parents
In her submissions on Thursday, counsel assisting the coroner, Chrissy McConnel, said members of NT police had made two separate attempts to convince Murdoch to reveal the whereabouts of Mr Falconio's remains in the weeks leading up to his death.
On June 25 — three weeks before Murdoch died — two police officers visited the 66-year-old in the Alice Springs Correctional Centre.
"The officers had hoped to play a video of Mr Falconio's parents, recorded with the help of Manchester police in the United Kingdom, for Mr Murdoch's viewing only," Ms McConnel said.
"When officers attended at the prison, Mr Murdoch stated his innocence and refused to watch the video."
A week later, police visited Murdoch in palliative care, but the visit lasted just 30 seconds.
"Murdoch did not speak to them, instead he yelled at them to get out,"Ms McConnel said.
A $500,000 reward remains in place for anyone who provides information that leads to the discovery of Mr Falconio's remains.
Peter Falconio was shot near the remote town of Barrow Creek, though his body has never been found. (AAP: Dave Hunt)
Family's 'concerns' over Murdoch's medical treatment
The inquest heard that an autopsy revealed that Murdoch died from "natural causes" resulting from stage-four cancer.
After complaining to health staff about a lump in his neck in November 2024, Murdoch was flown to Royal Adelaide Hospital, where he was diagnosed with "aggressive metastatic" cancer.
The court heard Murdoch's son, Quinton Murdoch, raised concerns about his father's treatment in custody during a recorded interview leading up to the inquest.
Bradley Murdoch was serving a life sentence at the Alice Springs prison. (Supplied: CASA)
Ms McConnel said his concerns included "perceived delays in Mr Murdoch's cancer diagnosis and treatment, and complaints about medications not being dispensed in a timely manner or missed".
"Other issues raised included Mr Murdoch's frustration that clinic staff did not listen to his concerns, the turnover of staff and mandatory COVID vaccinations, which they believe led to Murdoch becoming unwell," Ms McConnel said.
Ms McConnel said the evidence gathered from NT Health and the Department of Corrections demonstrated Murdoch received "excellent medical care, both by the prison service and the hospital".
No witnesses gave evidence during Thursday's inquest, but statements from representatives of NT Health and NT Corrections were provided to the coroner.
While referring to the statement provided on behalf of NT Health, Ms McConnel said occasional delays in medical treatment were acknowledged; however, there was "no missed opportunity for an earlier diagnosis that might have significantly altered the clinical course of [Murdoch's] treatment".
"The cancer treatment was no different to that which would have been offered to someone who was not a prisoner," she said.
"Particularly once the diagnosis was made, Mr Murdoch was provided with a high level of attention, and despite his complaints and criticisms of the care he received, there is nothing to indicate that any of those delays contributed to his death or resulted in an adverse outcome."
Bradley Murdoch died in Alice Springs Hospital's palliative care unit in July 2025. (ABC News: Steven Schubert)
The inquest also heard Murdoch was a "courteous and respectful" prisoner who formed close relationships with other inmates and prison staff, and who was employed as head cook in the prison kitchen as well as carrying out maintenance and woodwork jobs.
Murdoch was being held in a low-security classification by the time of his death.
Murdoch treated in 'compassionate and considerate manner', coroner finds
NT Coroner Elisabeth Armitage said she had read the brief of evidence provided in the lead-up to Thursday's hearing and handed down her findings.
Judge Armitage found Murdoch received "high quality and timely medical care both at the Alice Springs medical centre and Alice Springs Hospital".
"He was dealt with in a compassionate and considerate manner by correctional and health staff," she said.
The coroner did not make any recommendations.
Elisabeth Armitage did not make any recommendations regarding Bradley Murdoch's death. (ABC News: Michael Franchi)