A mechanic has been ordered to stand trial for the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio and an attack on his girlfriend in the Australian outback three years ago.

After a five-week preliminary hearing in Darwin, magistrate Alasdair McGregor found there was enough evidence against Bradley John Murdoch for him to be tried in the Northern Territory Supreme Court for the murder of former Brighton University student Mr Falconio, 28, on July 14, 2001.

Murdoch, 45, will also be tried for the deprivation of liberty and unlawful assault of Mr Falconio's 27-year-old girlfriend, Joanne Lees, from Brighton.

Miss Lees' family welcomed the announcement.

Speaking at his home in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, her stepfather, Vincent James, said it had come as a great relief.

He said: "We are pleased about it. It's good news."

Mr James did not think Miss Lees was aware of the news yet but was sure she would be pleased.

He said: "If Joanne wants me to go out with her (for the trial), I'll go with her. I know she's going."

Mr James said the family just wanted her to get through the ordeal and complete the trial.

No date has been set but it is expected to be held next year.

More than 50 witnesses were called during the preliminary hearing at Darwin Magistrates Court, including Miss Lees and Mr Falconio's brother Paul.

The prosecution alleged the Britons were travelling in a camper van along a remote desert highway in the outback shortly after dark when Murdoch pulled up in his pick-up truck and flagged them down.

It is alleged he then shot Mr Falconio, from Huddersfield, and bound and gagged Miss Lees. She later managed to flee into the desert after a brief struggle.

The incident sparked one of the biggest manhunts in Australian criminal history.

It involved Aboriginal trackers and hundreds of police officers scouring an area of the outback the size of France.

Murdoch was arrested months later in southern Australia.

He was initially arrested on an unrelated rape charge - of which he was later cleared - before Northern Territory police arrested him in connection with Mr Falconio's disappearance.

Murdoch is due to face a preliminary hearing in the Supreme Court on September 20.

He has yet to formally enter a plea to any of the charges but when the magistrate asked if he wanted to say anything in his defence, he replied: "I am not guilty of any of these allegations, your honour."