'I DIDN'T DO IT'

BRADLEY John Murdoch has denied any involvement in the disappearance of British backpacker Peter Falconio.

Taking the stand at his murder trial for the first time yesterday, Murdoch told the jury he did not go to Barrow Creek on the evening of July 14, 2001, and had nothing to do with Mr Falconio's disappearance.

Defence lawyer Grant Algie asked: ``Did you have anything to do with the attempted abduction and assault on (Joanne) Lees?''

Murdoch replied: ``I did not''.

Murdoch has pleaded not guilty to killing Mr Falconio 10km north of Barrow Creek.

He also has denied assaulting Mr Falconio's girlfriend Joanne Lees and depriving her of her liberty.

Ms Lees sat in court while Murdoch gave evidence yesterday with her arms crossed in front of her.

Launching his cross-examination yesterday, prosecutor Rex Wild, QC, asked: ``Where did you bury Peter Falconio?''

Mr Algie responded sharply with: ``That is objectionable.''

Murdoch told the court he made seven drug-running trips from South Australia to Broome, one of them in July 2001.

He said he bought a camper trailer in Adelaide, picked up about 9kg of cannabis in Sedan, South Australia, then continued on to Alice Springs where he picked up supplies.

While in Alice, Murdoch said he visited Red Rooster and bought a chicken roll and a box of nuggets for his dog Jack.

Murdoch said he turned on to the Tanami Track at 3.30pm and was at Yuendumu by 8pm.

The prosecution says Murdoch killed Mr Falconio about 8pm, refuelled in Alice Springs at 12.48am _ where he was allegedly captured on a security camera _ then took the Tanami to Halls Creek.

But Murdoch said he knew the vehicle on the security footage was not his vehicle because it was not towing a camper trailer, it had an after-market exhaust pipe, where his was standard, and it had a different bullbar.

``This vehicle has flared fibreglass mudguards on it and I don't have them,'' he said. ``I know it was not me at that Shell (service station).''

Mr Murdoch denied making alterations to his vehicle in 2001 as a result of Mr Falconio's disappearance.

``I've always mucked around with vehicles,'' he said.

``I love doing that sortof thing''.

Mr Algie then asked Murdoch whether his estranged business partner James Hepi ever saw him making handcuffs out of cable ties, as he claimed in his evidence.

``Did that ever happen?'' Mr Algie asked.

Murdoch replied: ``No, it did not.''

Murdoch also denied ever telling Mr Hepi he knew where to bury a body.

Asked why he believed Mr Hepi had planted his DNA on items seized by police, Murdoch said: ``I've been locked up in prison. We had a disagreement over drug-running and there was a lot of distrust going on ... that's what you end up thinking.''

Murdoch said he did not know how his blood came to be on the T-shirt worn by Ms Lees on the day her boyfriend disappeared.

``I don't know if I crossed her path or not,'' he said.

Murdoch admitted owning two guns _ a .357 ``Dirty Harry'' gun and a black Beretta pistol _ but said he did not own a silver gun.

Ms Lees told the court her attacker had a silver ``Western-style'' pistol.

Murdoch also denied ever trying to sell a gun to a woman he met travelling across the Nullarbor and said a witness's account of seeing him sitting at a table with a silver gun was untrue.

Cross-examining thewitness, prosecutor Rex Wild, QC, said Murdoch knew where to bury a body because he already haddone so.

``You do know places to bury a body because you buried Peter Falconio didn't you?'' he asked.

``No, I did not,'' Murdoch replied.

The prosecution will continue its cross-examination of Murdoch today.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Wed, 30 November 2005
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Author: Rebecca Hewett
Copyright: 2005 Northern Territory News
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/