The girlfriend of murdered British backpacker Peter Falconio has returned to Australia for the first time in 15 years to try to find his body and bring it home.

Joanne Lees, from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, has gone back to the remote outback spot where her boyfriend was shot and where she was attacked.

In a documentary filmed for Australian TV, she says she had no choice but to run from his killer because "it was either run or be raped or killed".

Image: Ms Lees and Peter Falconio were travelling in Australia when they were attacked

In a trailer for the current affairs show 60 Minutes, Ms Lees is seen in a helicopter flying over the murder scene saying: "Pete's still missing. I know that he's somewhere here."

The couple were travelling in their camper van on a remote stretch of highway about 200 miles north of Alice Springs in July 2001 when they were waved down by Bradley Murdoch.


Image: Bradley Murdoch was convicted of the murder

Mr Falconio, 28, was shot in the head and Ms Lees, who was then 27, was threatened with a gun, hit in the head and bound with cable ties.

She managed to escape and hid in the bushes for hours while Murdoch searched for her with a dog.

Murdoch was convicted in 2005 of murdering Mr Falconio and assaulting Ms Lees.

Image: Mr Falconio with Ms Lees. He was shot in the head

He is believed to have hidden the body, and it has never been found despite extensive searches.

Asked by reporter Liz Hayes if she was "stepping inside your attacker's mind" by returning to the scene, she said: "I guess it is a very alien thing for me to do because I'm not a violent person."

Image: The camper van that the couple were using in Australia

She tearfully adds: "It's because I love Pete so much and I want to bring him home and I need to bring him home."

Ms Lees, who is now 43, also refers to doubts which were raised over her story at the time after she appeared unemotional.

"It was like a stab to the heart", she said.

The programme, billed as a "major television event", is being broadcast in Australia on Sunday.