A man today came face-to-face with the mechanic accused of murdering his brother on an Australian outback highway.

Paul Falconio, 34, was the first person to give evidence at a hearing to determine whether Bradley John Murdoch will be tried for murdering Brighton University graduate Peter Falconio.

Mr Falconio, 28, has not been seen since disappearing in central Australia in July 2001.

His girlfriend Joanne Lees, a 30-year-old travel agent from Hove, and his brother have travelled to the northern Australian port city of Darwin to speak at the committal.

At the end of the hearing, expected to last six weeks, magistrate Alasdair McGregor will decide whether the evidence is strong enough to merit a full jury trial.

Murdoch, 45, was not required to enter pleas to charges of murdering Mr Falconio and abducting and assaulting Ms Lees.

He sat taking notes as prosecutors began outlining their case.

Paul Falconio told the court: "The last time I spoke to my brother was approximately one month before he went missing.

"My mother actually spoke to him a day or so before."

He said the family, including four brothers, had been very close and had always kept in regular contact.

Mr Falconio disappeared on July 14, 2001.

Police have said Mr Falconio and Miss Lees were driving through the outback, north of Alice Springs, when they stopped after being signalled by another driver.

Miss Lees told police her boyfriend went to the back of the couple's camper van and she heard a shot.

She said she was tied up and dumped in a pick-up truck but wriggled free and hid in bushes before flagging down a lorry.

Police helped by Aboriginal trackers launched a huge search for Mr Falconio without success.

Rex Wild, Northern Territory director of public prosecution, said Miss Lees overheard the man who flagged them down telling Mr Falconio sparks were flying from their vehicle's exhaust pipe.

Mr Falconio stepped away from the van, never to be seen again.

Murdoch was arrested months later on unrelated rape charges, of which he was later cleared.

Miss Lees is due to give evidence tomorrow.