The girlfriend of a missing Briton has declared she wants the man accused of murdering him to receive a fair hearing.

Joanne Lees, a Hove travel agent, is in Australia as the chief prosecution witness at Bradley John Murdoch's pre-trial hearing.

Murdoch is charged with killing Brighton University graduate Peter Falconio and abducting Miss Lees on an outback road in central Australia in July 2001.

The hearing on Monday will determine whether there is enough evidence against Murdoch to merit a trial.

Miss Lees said: "I want Murdoch to receive a fair committal hearing as I believe this is the only way justice can prevail.

"I wish I was here under different circumstances as I still have many friends here and I have very happy memories of Australia.

"However, this is not a holiday and I am completely focused on the task ahead."

Miss Lees, 30, flew to the northern port city of Darwin accompanied by Mark Sanders, one of Mr Falconio's best friends at university.

Miss Lees said she would abide by a request from prosecutors not to conduct any media interviews while the case was still in court.

The body of 28-year-old Mr Falconio has never been found despite searches by Aboriginal trackers and spotters in helicopters.

Murdoch was arrested months later on unrelated rape charges.

He faces life imprisonment if convicted.