Police consider hypnotism in Outback ambush case

Outback ambush victim Joanne Lees

DARWIN, Australia -- Australian police are considering using hypnotherapy to help solve the case of a British tourist who was abducted in the remote Northern Territory almost three weeks ago.

A reward of $250,000 has been offered for information leading to the whereabouts of the missing man, Peter Falconio, or the gunman, but so far police have come up empty-handed.

The police may now use hynotherapy on Joanne Lees, Falconio's girlfriend, who was also abducted and bound by the gunman but who subsequently managed to escape.

The Northern Territory police's Assistant Commissioner John Daulby told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation they would not put any pressure on Lees, but if hypnotherapy could prompt her to remember further details it might help.

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"We won't discount the use of hypnotherapy, but however I must caution the use of that science or methodology," he said.

"But we won't discount anything in the framework of the legalities of the investigation."

A police spokesperson says a number of psychics have called police with information and police have investigated the leads.

The best break police have had so far in the mystery has been discovering a DNA sample that may have come from the gunman.

Police said Thursday the DNA sample was found on Lees' clothing but they have not found a match for the sample on any Australian crime databases.

International police agency Interpol had been contacted to help search non-Australian DNA databases.

Australian police have followed up hundreds of possible sightings of the gunman but have gathered few firm leads despite a massive manhunt using Aboriginal trackers and aircraft across an area five times the size of Britain.

Lees, who has re-enacted the ambush for police, said she was bound and gagged and had a bag pulled over her head but managed to escape.

Mother attacks doubters

She said she hid for hours in pitch-dark desert scrub while the gunman hunted her with his dog.

Lees, who has shunned talking to the media about her ordeal, said she eventually was able to flag down a passing truck and escape the area.

Lees mother spoke out Thursday criticizing those who have questioned her daughter's version of events, saying the DNA sample verified her story.

"It's disgusting that people have doubted Joanne's story," the BBC reports mother Jennifer James saying.

"She has been through a terrible ordeal and I can't understand why people would want to put her through even more," said James.

Reuters contributed to this report.