Lawyers in Australia today stalled a move which could solve the mystery of backpacker Peter Falconio's disappearance in the outback.

Mr Falconio, a 28-year-old Brighton University graduate, has not been seen since July last year when he and girlfriend Joanne Lees were ambushed by a gunman on a remote highway north of Alice Springs.

Australian detectives questioning a man about an unrelated rape and abduction noticed a similarity between their suspect and photofit images of Mr Falconio's attacker.

Detectives have been questioning Bradley Murdoch, 44, in connection with the Falconio case since his arrest last week.

But his defence team today blocked moves by to take his DNA to test against DNA from Miss Lees' blood-stained T-shirt. Miss Lees, who escaped by hiding in the undergrowth, has returned to her job at a travel agent in Brighton as investigations continue. She is being kept up to date by Australian detectives.

Despite one of the country's biggest manhunts police have so far failed to find Mr Falconio or his attacker.

Murdoch was arrested in Port Augusta, 185 miles north of Adelaide, nine days ago for allegedly raping two women.

Today, Northern Territory police applied to an Adelaide court for a sample of his blood to compare the DNA with the sample taken Miss Lees clothing.

Magistrate Gary Gumpl agreed a sample could be handed over but Murdoch's defence appealed against release of the DNA, saying it was not relevant to the current charges.

The appeal will be heard before the South Australia state Supreme Court on Monday.

Reports yesterday suggested Murdoch had admitted being the man caught on CCTV footage in the Northern Territory which was broadcast across Australia at the time of the attack.

Shortly after Mr Falconio's disappearance, Murdoch is said to have taken his van to an upholsterer to have its distinctive canopy changed.

Lio Odore, who carried out the work told Australian reporters he had asked Murdoch about his similarity to the man on the CCTV footage.

He said: "He said that it was him, that he was filling up his car and it was his photograph but that he hadn't done anything wrong."

Murdoch was questioned by police at the time but no action was taken.

Police are believed to have also discovered restraints inside a secret compartment in his van. Miss Lees had been handcuffed by the gunman.

Murdoch faces life in jail if convicted of the two rape charges.

He is also accused of two counts of unlawful detention, one of assault and a firearms offence.

Mr Murdoch's charges relate to an alleged incident last week in South Australia, 800 miles away from Barrow Creek.

Detectives in the Falconio case have described Mr Murdoch as a "person of interest" to them.

A ministerial agreement has already been signed allowing the DNA profile to be handed over from South Australia to the Northern Territory.