Hunt for killer of outback tourist is scaled down

Police have scaled down the hunt for the suspected killer of Peter Falconio, who is feared to have been shot in the Australian outback.

Ten weeks after the British tourist's disappearance, they admit they are no closer to finding the gunman.

The investigation is now been handled by a task force of 14 detectives based in Alice Springs.

It is the largest criminal investigation in the Northern Territory's history.

Mr Falconio, 28, has been missing since he and his girlfriend Joanne Lees, both from West Yorkshire, were ambushed near Barrow Creek, north of Alice Springs, in July.

Investigators still have numerous potential leads to explore, sustaining hope that Australia's most wanted man may yet be found.

Tips from the public have generated more than 5,600 lines of investigation. Police had eliminated more than 200 potential suspects and 350 vehicles similar to the one driven by the gunman.

Northern Territory Assistant Police Commissioner John Daulby says potential clues continue to be phoned in at a rate of a dozen a day.

He says Mr Falconio's family and girlfriend remain optimistic: "Obviously we're very optimistic that we'll find him and we'll find the offender. We've got to be."

"It's certainly the biggest criminal investigation that has been conducted in the NT and it will continue to be given that high priority."