Falconio murder cruel, and remorsless says appeal judges

Murdoch claimed Joanne Lees saw him on the internet

Bradley John Murdoch has failed in an appeal against his conviction and life sentence for the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio in the Northern Territory outback with the appeal judges describing the murder as cruel, remorseless and completely unprovoked.".

The 48-year-old Broome mechanic was found guilty in December 2005 of shooting dead the construction engineer beside an outback road in July 2001.

The jury also found Murdoch guilty of abducting and assaulting Mr Falconio's girlfriend Joanne Lees near Barrow Creek, about 300km north of Alice Springs.

A three person appeal court dismissed the appeal. Mr Murdoch was represented by leading criminal barrister Ian Barker

"In our opinion the presence of the blood of the appellant upon the T-shirt of Ms Lees establishes beyond reasonable doubt the presence of the appellant at the time Ms Lees was attacked," the judgment said.

"When this evidence is considered, along with the other evidence properly admitted at trial, of events occurring at that location, the guilt of the appellant of the murder of Peter Falconio is established beyond reasonable doubt...

"We conclude that there has been no substantial miscarriage of justice in this case."

The three judges also dismissed the appeal against Murdoch's life sentence and 28-year non-parole period, saying "the killing was cold-blooded and premeditated".

"As the Crown put it there can be no closure for those grieving for the victim as the appellant has chosen not to reveal what he did," the judgment said.

"There were no factors to mitigate the appellant's conduct which was cruel, remorseless and completely unprovoked."