Missing backpacker’s girlfriend comes face-to-face with suspect

THE girlfriend of a British backpacker who disappeared in the Australian Outback four years ago finally faced his alleged murderer in court yesterday.

Joanne Lees was giving evidence on the opening day of the trial of Bradley John Murdoch, 47, of Broome, Western Australia, who denies murdering Peter Falconio.

The jury at the Northern Territory Supreme Court in Darwin heard the prosecution claim that Ms Lees curled up "like a rabbit" and hid in the bush for five hours to escape Murdoch.