PETER was a very kind and caring person. He always had time to listen to people.

He was popular and outgoing and made friends easily. He also had a wonderful sense of fun.

Peter was bright and intelligent and had worked hard for his university degree. He had worked in construction management in the south of England before leaving for Australia in November 2000.

I spoke to Peter for the last time on the 13th July 2001. We had a lovely talk together, he was laughing and joking making plans as he always did. Joanne was beside him and I could hear her laughing. They sounded so happy.

Little more than 24 hours later our lives changed forever. On the 15th July 2001 the telephone rang. Two English backpackers had been ambushed on the Stuart Highway just north of a place called Barrow Creek. A male of 28 and a female of 27.

The female was safe her boyfriend was missing.

I knew Peter and Joanne were on that road but didn't want to believe it was them. I prayed it wasn't.

Two hours later the phone rang again - it was them. Peter was gone. There was a pool of blood on the road. I fell to my knees.

I could never describe to you the depth of my feelings, and what I tell you next will only touch the surface.

The torment and constant physical pain never left my body for months. The images of what had happened to Peter were always in my head - the not knowing was unbearable.

I suffered the most awful panic and anxiety attacks.I never knew mental and physical pain could be so relentless.

Days merged into weeks; weeks into months I honestly thought I would die and many times I wanted to.

I had to constantly see my sons or check on them that they were safe.

Our family was always a close one. But the pressure we were under was immense. At times we were torn apart. You walk on egg shells each not wanting to hurt or upset the other. Sometimes the tension was so great I thought our marriage would collapse.

The press were intrusive and invaded our privacy. They failed to focus and report the facts, preferring to print articles that were irrelevant and detracted from the crime itself.

Luciano, my sons and I came to Australia nearly 10 weeks ago to see Justice done for the murder of Peter.

The trial has been long and very harrowing. We have listened to the evidence and have no doubt the jury made the right decision.

We hope the sentence given to Murdoch will reflect the brutality of the crime he committed and of the life he took.

The pain will never go from me. I think of Peter every minute of every day.

He was only 28 years old and had so much living left to do.