A POLICE officer has said he was insulted by suggestions he had planted evidence in the case surrounding Huddersfield tourist Peter Falconio.

David Chalker, the officer in charge of the investigation, said he did not put murder trial defendant Bradley John Murdoch's DNA on cable tie restraints allegedly used to bind Joanne Lees.

An Australian court has heard DNA matching Murdoch's was found on a portion of the handcuffs sent to the United Kingdom for specialist testing.

Defence lawyer Grant Algie asked today: "Did you put Mr Murdoch's DNA on the handcuffs before they were sent to the UK?"

Det Sgt Chalker replied: "I really find that quite offensive that you would suggest that, and no I did not."

Mr Algie asked Det Sgt Chalker at the Northern Territory supreme Court in Darwin if he knew of any other police officers who may have planted the evidence.

"I find that quite offensive you stating that," Det Sgt Chalker said.

Murdoch's defence lawyer has suggested police may have had opportunity to plant the evidence when they took the manacles to a meeting with Murdoch in an Adelaide prison in October 2002.

But Det Sgt Chalker said the paper bag containing the handcuffs remained closed on a table in the room during the discussion and were never shown to Murdoch.

The 47-year-old mechanic from Broome has denied murdering Mr Falconio, of Hepworth, beside the Stuart Highway in the outback in July 2001.

He also has pleaded not guilty to assaulting Mr Falconio's girlfriend Ms Lees, of Almondbury, and depriving her of her liberty.

Det Sgt Chalker, who remains on duty in the case, also denied ever speaking to Murdoch's ex-drug smuggling partner James Hepi about cigarette butts he allegedly collected to try to obtain Murdoch's DNA.

He admitted Northern Territory police were criticised during the investigation, but said he never felt pressured to make an arrest or secure a conviction in the case.

He said: "There was criticism and the type of criticism varied depending upon who was reporting it."

Mr Algie asked: "Is there pressure on you and other police, community expectation on you and other police, to secure a conviction?"

Det Sgt Chalker replied: "None whatsoever."

Earlier, the court heard from a Perth detective who said he had a friendly chat with Murdoch about cars three months after Mr Falconio disappeared.

Mitchell Howard said Murdoch showed him his new turbo engine on his white four-wheel drive Land Cruiser when police called at his Broome house in October 2001.

Detective Howard said police visited the property to speak with Murdoch's flatmate and former drug running partner James Hepi on an unrelated matter.

The trial, which has now heard from 77 witnesses over the past six weeks, will continue on Monday.