A man has been charged with murdering Brighton University graduate Peter Falconio, more than two years after he went missing in Australia.

Mechanic Bradley John Murdoch, 45, appeared before magistrates in northern Australia today. He also faced charges of abducting and assaulting Mr Falconio's girlfriend, Joanne Lees.

Police allege Murdoch abducted the pair on a deserted road, shot 28-year-old Mr Falconio and tied up Ms Lees in the back of his pick-up truck.

She later escaped and alerted police, explaining how she had hidden in bushes for six hours before the attacker drove off.

Murdochwas arrested in Adelaide last Monday after being acquitted of unrelated charges.

He was not required to enter a plea at today's hearing at Darwin magistrates' court.

Chief magistrate Hugh Bradley ordered him held in custody until a pre-trial hearing on November 28.

Murdoch faces life imprisonment if convicted but has denied any involvement in Mr Falconio's death.

Ms Lees is expected to be the key prosecution witness at his trial.

Outside the court, prosecutor Rex Wild said a committal hearing would probably be held in April or May next year.

Despite exhaustive searches by police and Aboriginal trackers, no trace has ever been found of Mr Falconio's body.