Ambush survivor relives outback terror

BRITISH tourist Joanne Lees, the survivor of the outback ambush in which her boyfriend is believed murdered, today re-enacted the horrific scenario in which she was hunted in darkness by the killer.

The 27-year-old travel agent from Brighton relived the terror of her six-hour ordeal step by step, with police even going to the extent of putting a bag over her head just as the gunman did five days ago when she last saw her surveyor boyfriend of five years, Peter Falconio, 28, who is still missing.

The couple were attacked north of Alice Springs after they stopped their VW van when the gunman drew alongside on the road and indicated they had engine trouble. When they stopped and Mr Falconio walked behind the vehicle, Ms Lees heard a shot. She was then beaten, gagged and tied up before managing to escape while the gunman was distracted.

For the re-enactment, the Stuart Highway was closed to traffic and just as deserted as on the night of the ambush.

Northern Territory police commander Max Pope said it had to be as real as possible.

"We told her 'You're in the car, this is the highway'."

Before darkness fell, they took Ms Lees into the desert and the scrub she cowered beneath while the gunman stalked her with his dog.

Copyright 2001
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.