The man convicted earlier this week of murdering British tourist Peter Falconio in Australia in 2001 will serve at least 28 years in prison before being considered for parole.
Chief Justice Brian Martin told a court in Darwin today that Bradley Murdoch was a cold-blooded killer whose actions were cowardly in the extreme. The judge said Murdoch had shown a complete lack of remorse during his trial.
On Tuesday Murdoch was convicted of shooting Mr Falconio on the Stuart Highway in the Northern Territory in July 2001. He was also found guilty of abducting and assaulting Mr Falconio’s girlfriend, Joanne Lees.
Ms Lees managed to escape and hid for five hours before being rescued. Mr Falconio’s body has never been found.
Mr Falconio's mother, Joan, said Murdoch's actions had torn her family apart. She said she had been living in constant physical and mental pain, and not knowing what had happened to her son had been unbearable.
