Falconio suspect fights DNA move

The only suspect in the case of Peter Falconio, who vanished in the Australian Outback last year, is resisting moves to have his DNA analysed.

Police strongly suspect that Bradley Murdoch, a former farmhand who appeared in court yesterday on unrelated rape charges, is the gunman who attacked the British tourist and his girlfriend, Joanne Lees. Lawyers for Mr Murdoch opposed the DNA application at Adelaide magistrates' court. The South Australian Supreme Court will hear an appeal on Monday and, if it finds in favour of police, Mr Murdoch's DNA sample will be sent to the Northern Territory to be compared with a spot of blood found on a shirt worn by Ms Lees.

Mr Murdoch, 44, has been charged with abducting a woman and her teenage daughter, holding them captive for three days and raping them. He fits the gunman's description and his truck is similar to the one described by Ms Lees. He was one of the first people interviewed by police after the attack in July 2001, but was discounted as a suspect.

Mr Falconio, who was driving from Alice Springs to Darwin in a van with Ms Lees, is believed to have been shot dead by the gunman, who flagged them down on a quietstretch of highway. He has not been found. Ms Lees was tied up and thrown in the truck but managed to escape. Despite a manhunt, no arrests have yet been made.

The result of DNA testing on Mr Murdoch could be known within 48 hours of a court ruling but may not be released for fear of prejudicing the Falconio inquiry and the rape case.

The magistrate, Gary Gumpl, approved an application for a DNA sample to be given to Northern Territory police. But Mr Murdoch's lawyers appealed, arguing it was not relevant to the current charges.

South Australian police contacted colleagues in the Northern Territory after arresting Mr Murdoch 10 days ago in Port Augusta, 185 miles north of Adelaide. He faces life imprisonment if convicted of rape, and is also accused of unlawful detention, assault and a firearms offence.