Potentially crucial DNA traces have been found on clothing belonging to the girlfriend of backpacker Mr Peter Falconio, who is missing in the Australian outback.
Northern Territory Police today said it was a "small, but significant" breakthrough in the investigation.
Speaking at a media briefing today Northern Territory police assistant commissioner Mr John Daulby announced the DNA findings.
He said DNA - which did not belong to Mr Falconio or girlfriend Ms Joanna Lees, who was with him when he was last seen alive on July 14th - had been found on an article of her clothing.
The DNA samples were being compared to those in databanks across the world.
Ms Lees (27), told police the couple were ambushed as they travelled towards Darwin in their VW camper van.
She says she was bound and gagged and thrown into the ambusher's car but managed to escape to raise the alarm.
As she ran away she told police she heard a gunshot. Despite extensive land and air searches, Mr Falconio has not been found.
PA