Man accused of outback murder not linked to missing Briton

Australian police charging a man with the outback murder of a chef have ruled out any connection with the disappearance of British tourist Peter Falconio.

Andrew Heffernan was arrested at a caravan park near Newcastle, 90 miles north of Sydney, after a tip-off.

The 25-year-old later appeared in court charged with the murder of Stuart Rhodes, whose stabbed body was found on August 5 next to the Stuart Highway near Alice Springs.

The discovery of Mr Rhodes' body came three weeks after Mr Falconio, from Huddersfield, went missing about 220 miles away on the same highway.

The 28-year-old has not been seen since July 14 when it is believed he was shot by a gunman who had ambushed the tourist and his girlfriend Joanne Lees near a small township called Barrow Creek, north of Alice Springs.

Joanne, 27, also from Huddersfield, escaped and alerted police. Authorities launched one of the biggest manhunts ever in Australia but found neither Mr Falconio nor the gunman.

Police initially did not rule out a link between Rhodes' death and Mr Falconio's disappearance, but later said there was no connection.

Northern Territory Police Assistant Commissioner John Daulby said: "I can rule out any connection with the Barrow Creek incident by way of the details we have on this particular person," .