Man arrested over outback murder

A man accused of killing British backpacker Peter Falconio was arrested today in an Australian court moments after being cleared of unrelated offences.

Police held mechanic Bradley John Murdoch at Adelaide's district court after he was acquitted of the rape and abduction of a 12-year-old girl and the abduction and assault of her mother.

Northern Territory police will apply for Murdoch's extradition tomorrow. They had to wait for the end of the trial to make the arrest because of Australia's federal system.

Police will tell the court they have DNA evidence which implicates Murdoch in the shooting of Mr Falconio, 28, and the attempted abduction of his girlfriend Joanne Lees two years ago.

The couple were attacked after a man flagged down their VW camper van at Barrow Creek in the Northern Territory.

Ms Lees had her hands tied behind her back but managed to escape and was rescued by a passing lorry driver.