1

Peter Falconio

& Joanne Lees

2

Australia, 2001

Driving around Australia

Northern Territory

Joanne Lees

3

Australia, 2001

Stopped by the driver of another vehicle

Peter Falconio taken out of sight

Shot and never seen again

Strap used to

tie Joanne Lees

4

Joanne Lees

Captured

Hands tied with a strap

Escaped and hid in a bush

Went to the police

5

Police Investigation

Peter Falconio was never found

Found one bloodstain on the road

6

Suspect

Drug smuggler

Bradley Murdoch

Bradley Murdoch

Could Bradley Murdoch be

linked to the crime scene?

vs

7

Police Investigation

Bradley Murdoch

Joanne Lees

8

Evidence

Blood on her t-shirt

1

DNA matched to Bradley Murdoch

150 000 000 000 000 000 : 1 of

it being from someone else

Murdoch had had contact with Lees

9

Evidence

Gear stick of camper van

DNA matched Bradley Murdoch

2

Bradley Murdoch was at the crime scene

10

Evidence

Strap

3

Low copy number DNA

DNA of Joanne Lees

DNA of Dr. Peter Thatcher

DNA of Bradley Murdoch

100 000 000 : 1

11

Evidence

Blood on her t-shirt

1

Gear stick of camper van

2

Without DNA technology

30 : 1

Without DNA technology

Zero

12

Evidence

Strap

3

Without DNA technology

No use as evidence

13

Evidence

“

One of these things by itself might not

have been enough. Put together, there

was a very damning case.

”

– Rex Wild

Bradley Murdoch convicted

Without DNA technology

No case

14

Summary

Proving paternity and maternity

1

Police work changed

2

DNA databases

Very small traces can be individualized

3

Solving cold cases