Murdoch appeals Falconio murder conviction

DARWIN - Bradley John Murdoch today launched an appeal against his conviction for the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio.

Murdoch's Northern Territory lawyer Ian Read lodged documents at the NT Supreme Court building late yesterday afternoon, seeking leave to appeal the conviction in the Court of Criminal Appeal.

"It's been lodged," Mr Read said outside the court.

He declined to outline the grounds for the appeal.

It was the final day on which Murdoch could lodge an appeal before the 28-day appeal period expired.

A jury last month found Murdoch, a 47-year-old mechanic and former truck driver, guilty of shooting 28-year-old Mr Falconio beside the remote Stuart Highway in the NT outback in July 2001.

He was also found guilty of assaulting Mr Falconio's girlfriend Joanne Lees and depriving her of her liberty after pulling over the British couple on the highway four years ago.

The jury's verdict came at the end of a high-profile eight week trial, which heard from 85 witnesses and had more than 300 exhibits tendered, and was attended by Mr Falconio's family and Ms Lees.

Murdoch was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 28 years years backdated to when he was first taken into NT police custody two years ago.

- AAP