Backpacker trial witness IDs suspect

In this undated photo released by Australia's Northern Territory Police, Joanne Lees, left, and her British boyfriend Peter Falconio are shown while traveling on the Stuart Highway, north of Alice Springs, Australia, before Falconio was killed in July 2001. PHOTO: AP

The girlfriend of murdered British backpacker Peter Falconio has identified Bradley Murdoch as the gunman who shot Falconio and tried to abduct her on a remote Outback highway four years ago.

Joanne Lees, 31, told a court in the far northern Australian city of Darwin yesterday that she feared she too would be shot after 47-year-old Murdoch waved a gun in her face and ordered her out of the orange VW campervan that the British couple were driving to Darwin.

Murdoch has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering Falconio and assaulting Lees.

`Inner strength'

"I was more scared of being raped than dying, than being shot by the man," Lees told the court. "The realization hit me that he might have killed Pete. I just got some energy from somewhere, and some inner strength."

Police believe Falconio, 28, was shot dead almost immediately after he got out of the campervan after being flagged down by Falconio.

Presumed dead

His body has never been found but the amount of blood at the scene was taken by police as testament to his death.

Lees managed to escape five hours later and flag down a passing truck.

When asked by the prosecutor whether the gunman was in court, Lees looked at Murdoch and told the court: "I'm looking at him".

In earlier testimony the court was told that a smudge of blood on the shirt Lees was wearing matched Murdoch's. DNA samples on the makeshift handcuffs that Lees was bound with also were a match for Murdoch's -- as was a sample taken from the VW Kombi's gear lever.

Murdoch does not deny being in the area at the time.

The day after the incident he changed the appearance of his vehicle, cut his hair and shaved off his moustache.