Joanne Lees ‘back in Australia to raise money for memorial to murdered boyfriend Peter Falconio’
The 43-year-old wants to create a memorial to help warn travellers of the potential dangers of the outback, using funds raised by an Aboriginal art sale
THE victim in an outback crime which baffled Australia in 2001 has reportedly returned to raise money for a memorial for her murdered boyfriend.
Joanne Lees, a British woman, is said to be in talks to set up a roadside memorial for Peter Falconio, which warns travellers of the dangers of the outback.
Mr Falconio was shot dead as he travelled with Ms Lees more than fifteen years ago by Bradley Murdoch.
She is a social worker in her hometown of Huddersfield but is apparently back in Australia, living in Sydney and Canberra since May, according to the .
In August she met with Aboriginal elders at Ti Tree, 200km north of Alice Springs in central Australia - the last place she and Mr Falconio watched the sunset together before he was killed and she was assaulted on July 14, 2001.
The murder happened at Barrow Creek, near Ti Tree, but Ms Lees does not want the memorial there as it is too painful.
On the trip to Ti Tree she was accompanied by Libby Andrews, a police officer in the 2001 case and Gwen Brown, one of the first officers on the scene.
She also met with a couple who provided key testimonies at the trial, Pam Brown and Jasper Haines, to help send Murdoch to jail.
Funds will be raised for the memorial through a one-day sale of Aboriginal art in Melbourne on October 28.
This trip is only the second time she has returned to the country since the pair, both 28, were touring Australia in a VW campervan when they were ambushed by Murdoch.
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After Mr Falconio was shot Ms Lees hid from Murdoch by hiding but then found herself the prime suspect for the murder.
Eventually Murdoch was found guilty and is serving a 28 year sentence.
Ms Lees told the court during the trial they had been followed by a four-wheel drive vehicle and were signalled to stop by the driver.
She said when Mr Falconio got out of the campervan she heard what she thought was a gunshot - then the man dragged her out of the VW and threw her into the front cabin of his vehicle.
She managed to escape and hid for five hours as the man and his dog searched for her, until she ran to the road and flagged down a passing car.
Mr Falconio's body has never been found, and Murdoch continues to deny he was involved in the murder.
In Ms Lee's meeting with Aboriginal elders in August it was agreed they would continue to look for Mr Falconio's remains.
After returning to the UK after Murdoch's conviction, Ms Lees became a social worker for Kirklees Council, she also wrote a book, No Turning Back, about her experience.
The family of Mr Falconio have placed a memorial to him in a secret spot in Australia, which they are keeping private and hoping to visit one day.
The Falconio's and Ms Lees are still said to be close.
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