An Australian sentenced to life in prison for the outback murder of British tourist Peter Falconio in 2001 has lost his bid for an appeal in the country's highest court.
Bradley John Murdoch (48) had lost an appeal against his conviction and the severity of his 28-year sentence in the Supreme Court in January but sought special leave to appeal to the High Court of Australia.
The court denied the application and said the Northern Territory Court of Criminal Appeal had made no error in its earlier judgement. The application's was Murdoch's final legal avenue.
Murdoch was convicted in 2005 of murdering Falconio and kidnapping Falconio's girlfriend, Joanne Lees, on a remote outback highway in the Northern Territory in 2001.
Murdoch pulled the couple over as they drove at night, saying smoke was coming from their camper van.
As Falconio checked the back of the van, Lees said she heard a loud bang. The prosecution said Murdoch shot Falconio, but the Briton's body was never found and neither was a murder weapon. Authorities said the body was hidden in the Australian outback.
Murdoch then put a gun to Lees' face and tied her up, but she escaped into bushes and was later picked up by a passing truck.