Falconio murder movie in the works

Peter Falconio (L) and his girlfriend Joanne Lees are seen in a file photo.

British network ITV is to make a film about the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio in the Australian Outback five years ago. It will star former Coronation Street actress Joanne Froggatt, 26, who will play Joanne Lees, the girlfriend of Falconio who was shot dead by Bradley Murdoch, a drug trafficker and drifter.

ITV is making the prime-time drama called To Catch A Killer about the killing and subsequent trial.

The film will focus on what producers describe as "the traumatic ordeal of Joanne Lees", who fled the killer and hid for hours in the bush before flagging down a truck.

Lees is writing her own book about the murder and has not co-operated with the film-makers.