DNA key to Outback murder mystery

A photofit released by Australian authorities of the man wanted in connection with Falconio's disappearance

SYDNEY, Australia (CNN) -- Police may know by Friday if DNA samples will provide them with a vital clue in the mystery disappearance of a British tourist in Australia's remote Northern Territory almost a year ago.

New South Wales state police on Tuesday said a man currently being held on murder charges in Sydney is also a suspect in the possible murder of Peter Falconio.

Investigators suspect Falconio, 28, died soon after he was shot in an ambush 300 km (186 miles) north of Alice Springs on July 14 last year by an unknown assailant who attempted to abduct his 27-year-old girlfriend, Joanne Lees.

Lees was bound and gagged but managed to elude the gunman and alert police.

Despite a massive manhunt, neither the gunman nor Falconio have been found.

NSW police have taken a DNA sample from their suspect while Northern Territory police have a blood sample taken from Lees' clothing which they believe could belong to the gunman.

Up until now, there has been no system allowing for the exchange of forensic information, such as DNA samples, between state and territory police in Australia.

But a spokesman for the NSW attorney-general said Wednesday a procedure to allow the exchange of forensic information is expected to be negotiated by the end of the day and the information could be available to investigators by the end of the week.

Police hope the DNA evidence can firm up their suspicions about the man being held in Sydney as they have few other leads in the baffling case.

The suspect was arrested in Sydney on Thursday and charged with murdering a man after a motor vehicle accident two days earlier.

After his arrest, police took a mouth swab and passed it on to forensic services.

Police have also offered a reward of $130,000 (Aust. $250,000) for information leading to an arrest of the suspected gunman.