He said there was no evidence a gun was even fired, saying no projectile was found and although the camper van was swabbed for gunshot residue, the swabs were never tested because there was nothing to suggest a gun had been fired.
Where is Peter Falconio?
AUSTRALIA: NT: The defence lawyer for the man charged with Peter Falconio's murder has urged a Darwin jury to find that his client was not at Barrow Creek, north of Alice Springs, on the night the backpacker disappeared.
Defence lawyer Grant Algie has finished his closing submissions in the murder trial of Bradley John Murdoch.
Murdoch has pleaded not guilty to killing Mr Falconio and assaulting Joanne Lees in July 2001.
Mr Algie told the jury that based on evidence given by Ms Lees, his client could not possibly have been at Barrow Creek.
He said Ms Lees' description of her alleged attacker's car differed from the four-wheel drive owned by Murdoch.
Mr Algie also said Ms Lees was the only person to describe Murdoch as having long hair.
In closing Mr Algie said if the jury had any doubts, then it should find his client not guilty.
Outback murder trial told victim staged own disappearance
Peter Falconio may have staged his own disappearance in the Australian Outback, a murder trial jury was told yesterday.
Barrister Grant Algie raised the prospect that Mr Falconio, of Huddersfield, could still be alive as he summed up the defence case at the trial of Bradley Murdoch, 47, of Broome, Western Australia.
Murdoch denies murdering Mr Falconio, who was 28, and abducting and assaulting his girlfriend Joanne Lees after flagging down the couple's orange camper van on a remote stretch of road on 14 July, 2001.
Mr Algie told the jury at the Northern Territory Supreme Court in Darwin that "from time to time some people disappear themselves for reasons best known to them".
He also suggested officers from the Northern Territory Police "manipulated the evidence" to make the case against Murdoch stronger than it was.
The court has heard that the couple were attacked on the Stuart Highway near Barrow Creek, about 200 miles north of Alice Springs.
The prosecution claims Mr Falconio, whose body has never been found, was shot dead and Miss Lees, 32, a care worker, was threatened with a gun, tied with her hands behind her back and put into the back of her attacker's vehicle.
She told police she managed to escape and hide in the bush for more than five hours before being rescued.
Mr Algie said: "You might think that if Mr Falconio had been killed that night, as the prosecution assert, they would have found his body.
"There's very little opportunity to get rid of a body too far away from the Stuart Highway itself. The searches undertaken by police were extensive, you might think.
"The absence of a body is a legitimate basis for serious concern when you are asked to return a verdict of murder."
He said there was no evidence a gun was even fired, saying no projectile was found and although the camper van was swabbed for gunshot residue, the swabs were never tested because there was nothing to suggest a gun had been fired.
The jury is expected to retire to consider its verdict early next week.
Related:
Murdoch nowhere near murder scene: defence
Closing submissions have begun in the trial of 47-year-old Bradley John Murdoch.
More:
http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/12/100852.php
Expert baffled by Falconio evidence DNA contamination
The court also heard swabs taken from the back of the couple's Kombi van were not tested for gunshot residue because there was no evidence of a gun being used or a cartridge being found at the crime scene.
http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/11/99220.php
Outback DNA evidence 'contaminated'
During cross-examination by Grant Algie, defending, Ms Eckhoff said she did not know how his DNA came to be on the exhibit.
More: http://adelaide.indymedia.org/newswire/display_any/9340
Unfaithful Lees admits taking drugs, court told
NT: Key witness Joanne lees, has testified in the Northern Territory Supreme Court to smoking Marijuana on the night her boyfriend Peter Falconio went missing.
Yesterday she told the court how unfaithful she was to her boyfriend and that she'd even had an affair. But for some reason Lees wasn't a suspect in her own boyfriends killing?
More: http://www.geocities.com/publik18/archive05/2005d55.html
No Murder Weapon, No Body, No Place or Time of Death
NT: Joanne Lees ought to be the main suspect in this show trial. There is no body and no weapon to be found and Joanne Lees had a clear and present motive. She knew him, she travelled with him, she was unfaithful to him and she said that she was the last person to see him on the night she was stoned out of her head. So where does Bradley James Murdoch fit in?
More: http://www.geocities.com/publik18/archive05/2005d52.html
Trial of B J Murdoch
The trial of Bradley John Murdoch may be sensational - but for the wrong reason. This trial has had serious flaws in it - decide for yourself
Pride and Prejudice versus facts and truth.Trial of Bradley John Murdoch
More: http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/10/97709.php
Defence lawyer Grant Algie has finished his closing submissions in the murder trial of Bradley John Murdoch.
Murdoch has pleaded not guilty to killing Mr Falconio and assaulting Joanne Lees in July 2001.
Mr Algie told the jury that based on evidence given by Ms Lees, his client could not possibly have been at Barrow Creek.
He said Ms Lees' description of her alleged attacker's car differed from the four-wheel drive owned by Murdoch.
Mr Algie also said Ms Lees was the only person to describe Murdoch as having long hair.
In closing Mr Algie said if the jury had any doubts, then it should find his client not guilty.
Outback murder trial told victim staged own disappearance
Peter Falconio may have staged his own disappearance in the Australian Outback, a murder trial jury was told yesterday.
Barrister Grant Algie raised the prospect that Mr Falconio, of Huddersfield, could still be alive as he summed up the defence case at the trial of Bradley Murdoch, 47, of Broome, Western Australia.
Murdoch denies murdering Mr Falconio, who was 28, and abducting and assaulting his girlfriend Joanne Lees after flagging down the couple's orange camper van on a remote stretch of road on 14 July, 2001.
Mr Algie told the jury at the Northern Territory Supreme Court in Darwin that "from time to time some people disappear themselves for reasons best known to them".
He also suggested officers from the Northern Territory Police "manipulated the evidence" to make the case against Murdoch stronger than it was.
The court has heard that the couple were attacked on the Stuart Highway near Barrow Creek, about 200 miles north of Alice Springs.
The prosecution claims Mr Falconio, whose body has never been found, was shot dead and Miss Lees, 32, a care worker, was threatened with a gun, tied with her hands behind her back and put into the back of her attacker's vehicle.
She told police she managed to escape and hide in the bush for more than five hours before being rescued.
Mr Algie said: "You might think that if Mr Falconio had been killed that night, as the prosecution assert, they would have found his body.
"There's very little opportunity to get rid of a body too far away from the Stuart Highway itself. The searches undertaken by police were extensive, you might think.
"The absence of a body is a legitimate basis for serious concern when you are asked to return a verdict of murder."
He said there was no evidence a gun was even fired, saying no projectile was found and although the camper van was swabbed for gunshot residue, the swabs were never tested because there was nothing to suggest a gun had been fired.
The jury is expected to retire to consider its verdict early next week.
Related:
Murdoch nowhere near murder scene: defence
Closing submissions have begun in the trial of 47-year-old Bradley John Murdoch.
More:
http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/12/100852.php Expert baffled by Falconio evidence DNA contamination
The court also heard swabs taken from the back of the couple's Kombi van were not tested for gunshot residue because there was no evidence of a gun being used or a cartridge being found at the crime scene.
http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/11/99220.php Outback DNA evidence 'contaminated'
During cross-examination by Grant Algie, defending, Ms Eckhoff said she did not know how his DNA came to be on the exhibit.
More:
http://adelaide.indymedia.org/newswire/display_any/9340 Unfaithful Lees admits taking drugs, court told
NT: Key witness Joanne lees, has testified in the Northern Territory Supreme Court to smoking Marijuana on the night her boyfriend Peter Falconio went missing.
Yesterday she told the court how unfaithful she was to her boyfriend and that she'd even had an affair. But for some reason Lees wasn't a suspect in her own boyfriends killing?
More:
http://www.geocities.com/publik18/archive05/2005d55.html No Murder Weapon, No Body, No Place or Time of Death
NT: Joanne Lees ought to be the main suspect in this show trial. There is no body and no weapon to be found and Joanne Lees had a clear and present motive. She knew him, she travelled with him, she was unfaithful to him and she said that she was the last person to see him on the night she was stoned out of her head. So where does Bradley James Murdoch fit in?
More:
http://www.geocities.com/publik18/archive05/2005d52.html Trial of B J Murdoch
The trial of Bradley John Murdoch may be sensational - but for the wrong reason. This trial has had serious flaws in it - decide for yourself
Pride and Prejudice versus facts and truth.Trial of Bradley John Murdoch
More:
http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/10/97709.php 
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