Joanne Lees and Peter Falconio

Now that Bradley Murdoch has been found guilty of the murder of Peter Falconio and sentenced to life imprisonment - with a non-parole period of 28 years, there has been much reporting on the case. Much of this is just publicity for some of the five books about to be released on the case, but nevertheless there is some interesting stuff - and the mystery of what happened to Falconio is still somewhat open.

Joanne Lees has clearly been through a lot - and it has changed her life seriously. Turns out that she was doped up on valium in the initial days after the 2001 disappearance of Falconio, apprently explaining why she came across as cold and unemotional. This and her attempts to cover up a fling she’d been having with Nick Reilly, led investigators to think she had something to hide.

Bradley Murdoch clearly was not a good man. His former associates in Broome and old schoolmates in Perth described him as a quiet loner and a “tough bastard”, an ex-Gypsy Jokers bikie who dealt in drugs, injected amphetamines, loved guns and hated Aborigines.

Another local who drank with Murdoch said people were reluctant to speak out because the mechanic had been a major player in Broome’s underworld.

“There’s a lot of people here who are twitching since his drug-running game has been exposed,” the man said.

“People don’t want to say anything in case it comes back to bite them. Let’s just say he had some associates who aren’t nice people.”

Now police are checking old crimes to see if Murdoch may have had any involvement in them. Police say they have been aware of Murdoch for some time. WA Police said Murdoch’s methodology and criminal profile were now being carefully scrutinised for possible links to several missing women across the state.

Murdoch himself remains very adamant about his innocence, and very resigned to his fate.

“But you do wonder how they can convict on all this f—ing bullshit,” he went on. “No body, no motive. They say I was after Miss Lees. I had a wad full of money. If I was that way inclined I could’ve called in to every whorehouse on the way. If I was that way inclined,”

Must admit, that having been across the Tanami Road from Alice Springs to Halls Creek then onto Broome (Murdoch’s route) I didn’t actually notice any such whorehouses.

“Jail time is only what you make it. The people who do it hard are already soft in the head. You keep your mind active, do a bit of reading, help the others with their paperwork - half these poor buggers can’t read or write, and everything in prison is paperwork. Requests for this or that all have to be in writing.

“If I do the time, I’ll be a 63-year-old fitness freak and eligible for a pension when I get out.”

Actually, 73. Another question, this to prison authorities. Why do we let prisoners have access to exercise equipment? What are we trying to achieve with prisons …. superfit, strong criminals or something? Society would be better served, I would think, if prisoners were left to wither physically, given menial sedentary jobs to fill their days ….not to turn into muscle bound athletes.

I must say I have some reservations about the verdict, but can’t really be sure, not having seen all the evidence, only that which has been reported in the press. There are lots of loose ends, open questions etc still remaining. However, the DNA evidence is pretty damning - Murdoch’s DNA having been found on Lees’ clothing, and on the gearstick of the Kombi Lees and Falconio had been travelling in. According to Murdoch:

“If it exists, it was planted,” he replied earnestly. “Hepi [Murdoch’s business partner, James Hepi] must have given them some of my clothes with blood on them, where I’d cut myself. A lot of my clothes had my blood on them. I was always injuring myself in my work, and my cat was very playful as a kitten and often scratched me.”

Oh yes, one more thing, does anyone have nude photos of Joanne Lees? This is for the benefit of those googling “joanne lees naked” to get to my blog. It seems to be a popular query, so if there’s anyone who can oblige ….