Witnesses contradict Lees over roadhouse stop
abc | 24.10.2005 05:38 | Analysis | World
The manager of the Aileron Roadhouse, north of Alice Springs, told the court that a couple driving an orange Kombi van stopped at the service station
Lees told the court that they did not stop at the Roadhouse
AUSTRALIA: NT: A Darwin court has heard that British backpackers Peter Falconio and his girlfriend Joanne Lees stopped at a Central Australian service station a few hours before he went missing.
The evidence presented in the Northern Territory Supreme Court went against statements made earlier by Ms Lees.
The manager of the Aileron Roadhouse, north of Alice Springs, told the court that a couple driving an orange Kombi van stopped at the service station.
He described the woman as pretty and tanned with an English accent, while her boyfriend had an Italian accent.
He said he was 90 per cent certain it was Mr Falconio and Ms Lees.
Another worker at the roadhouse said it was definitely them, unless they had a set of twins in Australia.
In Ms Lees' evidence she told the court that they did not stop at the roadhouse.
Forty-seven-year-old Bradley John Murdoch has pleaded not guilty to killing Mr Falconio and assaulting Ms Lees in July 2001.
Apology call
Meanwhile, the Northern Territory's Chief Justice has called on two Australian newspapers to apologise for comments published on the weekend relating to trial of the man accused of murdering Peter Falconio.
Chief Justice Brian Martin described articles in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age newspapers as objectionable, saying they portrayed Darwin as a hick town.
He said the articles also suggested prosecutor Rex Wild referred to the judge by his first name.
Mr Wild denied the claim and told the court he was distressed by the suggestion.
The Chief Justice said the articles reflected unfairly on him, the prosecutor, the court and the Territory's justice system.
They were written by a British journalist who has left Darwin after covering the first week of the trial of Bradley John Murdoch.
The Chief Justice also called on the newspapers to retract their stories.
The evidence presented in the Northern Territory Supreme Court went against statements made earlier by Ms Lees.
The manager of the Aileron Roadhouse, north of Alice Springs, told the court that a couple driving an orange Kombi van stopped at the service station.
He described the woman as pretty and tanned with an English accent, while her boyfriend had an Italian accent.
He said he was 90 per cent certain it was Mr Falconio and Ms Lees.
Another worker at the roadhouse said it was definitely them, unless they had a set of twins in Australia.
In Ms Lees' evidence she told the court that they did not stop at the roadhouse.
Forty-seven-year-old Bradley John Murdoch has pleaded not guilty to killing Mr Falconio and assaulting Ms Lees in July 2001.
Apology call
Meanwhile, the Northern Territory's Chief Justice has called on two Australian newspapers to apologise for comments published on the weekend relating to trial of the man accused of murdering Peter Falconio.
Chief Justice Brian Martin described articles in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age newspapers as objectionable, saying they portrayed Darwin as a hick town.
He said the articles also suggested prosecutor Rex Wild referred to the judge by his first name.
Mr Wild denied the claim and told the court he was distressed by the suggestion.
The Chief Justice said the articles reflected unfairly on him, the prosecutor, the court and the Territory's justice system.
They were written by a British journalist who has left Darwin after covering the first week of the trial of Bradley John Murdoch.
The Chief Justice also called on the newspapers to retract their stories.
abc
Comments
Display the following comment