Encore: The cop who stared down Peter Falconio’s outback killer

Colleen Gwynne led the investigation into the murder of the British backpacker and eventually confronted his killer in prison.

In 2001, Peter Falconio and his girlfriend Joanne Lees were ambushed on a remote stretch of road in the outback and Peter was shot dead.

Colleen was working as a cop in Alice Springs when she was asked to take over the complex murder case.

With help from the F.B.I, her work saw Bradley John Murdoch arrested and charged.

She confronted him in prison, and refused to be intimidated, despite his intense aggression towards her.

Murdoch was sentenced to life imprisonment and died in 2025.

After leaving the police force, Colleen took up another challenging job.

She became the Northern Territory Children's Commissioner, tasked with protecting vulnerable children.

Colleen's own story mean she brings a unique understanding to the work.

This episode was first broadcast in 2018 

The producer was Nicola Harrison and the Executive Producer was Pam O'Brien.