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Grace Millane murder: Man guilty of killing backpacker in New Zealand | Grace Millane murder: Man guilty of killing backpacker in New Zealand |
(32 minutes later) | |
A man who strangled a British backpacker and hid her body inside a suitcase has been found guilty of murder. | A man who strangled a British backpacker and hid her body inside a suitcase has been found guilty of murder. |
Grace Millane was found buried in bushland outside Auckland, New Zealand. | Grace Millane was found buried in bushland outside Auckland, New Zealand. |
A jury at the city's high court rejected claims by the 27-year-old man, who cannot be named, that she died accidentally during "rough sex". | A jury at the city's high court rejected claims by the 27-year-old man, who cannot be named, that she died accidentally during "rough sex". |
Ms Millane's parents David and Gillian wept in the public gallery as jurors convicted their daughter's killer. | Ms Millane's parents David and Gillian wept in the public gallery as jurors convicted their daughter's killer. |
He showed no emotion as the verdict - reached after about five hours of deliberations - was read out. | He showed no emotion as the verdict - reached after about five hours of deliberations - was read out. |
Justice Simon Moore said the defendant would be sentenced on 21 February next year. | Justice Simon Moore said the defendant would be sentenced on 21 February next year. |
Why can we not name the killer? | Why can we not name the killer? |
In New Zealand's court system, the accused and victims can ask to have their name suppressed, which means it becomes illegal to publish it in newspapers, online or anywhere else. | In New Zealand's court system, the accused and victims can ask to have their name suppressed, which means it becomes illegal to publish it in newspapers, online or anywhere else. |
The purpose is to protect people not yet proven guilty - but also to have a fairer trial by ensuring the jury is not prejudiced by media coverage. | The purpose is to protect people not yet proven guilty - but also to have a fairer trial by ensuring the jury is not prejudiced by media coverage. |
Images can also be withheld. | Images can also be withheld. |
Justice Simon Moore ordered that the suppression order which prevents naming the defendant would remain in place indefinitely until lifted by the court. | Justice Simon Moore ordered that the suppression order which prevents naming the defendant would remain in place indefinitely until lifted by the court. |
Mr and Mrs Millane, who had flown to New Zealand to attend the trial, said the verdict would be "welcomed by every member of the family and friends of Grace". | Mr and Mrs Millane, who had flown to New Zealand to attend the trial, said the verdict would be "welcomed by every member of the family and friends of Grace". |
Speaking outside the court, an emotional Mr Millane said the family's lives had been "ripped apart" by his daughter's "barbaric" murder. | Speaking outside the court, an emotional Mr Millane said the family's lives had been "ripped apart" by his daughter's "barbaric" murder. |
"Grace was our sunshine and she will be missed forever," he said. | "Grace was our sunshine and she will be missed forever," he said. |
Jurors heard the defendant and Ms Millane had met via the Tinder dating app on 1 December last year, the night before Ms Millane's 22nd birthday. | Jurors heard the defendant and Ms Millane had met via the Tinder dating app on 1 December last year, the night before Ms Millane's 22nd birthday. |
They spent several hours drinking cocktails in bars around Auckland before going to the defendant's hotel. | They spent several hours drinking cocktails in bars around Auckland before going to the defendant's hotel. |
Ms Millane, from Wickford, Essex, was found in the mountainous Waitākere Ranges a week later. | Ms Millane, from Wickford, Essex, was found in the mountainous Waitākere Ranges a week later. |
Prosecutors said post-mortem examinations found bruises "consistent with restraint" on her body, and that she had been strangled. | Prosecutors said post-mortem examinations found bruises "consistent with restraint" on her body, and that she had been strangled. |
On the night of her death, the court heard, the defendant "wasn't distressed or concerned by her death", and set about making plans to dispose of her remains. | On the night of her death, the court heard, the defendant "wasn't distressed or concerned by her death", and set about making plans to dispose of her remains. |
He "sexualised" the killing by searching for pornography, stopping at one point to take lewd photos of her corpse, prosecutors said. | He "sexualised" the killing by searching for pornography, stopping at one point to take lewd photos of her corpse, prosecutors said. |
The following day, he went on a Tinder date with another woman while the body of Ms Millane remained in the hotel room. | The following day, he went on a Tinder date with another woman while the body of Ms Millane remained in the hotel room. |
He had bought a second suitcase in a bid to cover his tracks, as well as cleaning products and a shovel, jurors heard. | He had bought a second suitcase in a bid to cover his tracks, as well as cleaning products and a shovel, jurors heard. |
The defendant did not give evidence in his defence. | |
Ms Millane's death prompted an outpouring of public grief in New Zealand with the country's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern apologising to her family. | Ms Millane's death prompted an outpouring of public grief in New Zealand with the country's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern apologising to her family. |
The University of Lincoln graduate had been on a round-the-world trip, travelling in New Zealand for two weeks after spending six weeks in South America. | The University of Lincoln graduate had been on a round-the-world trip, travelling in New Zealand for two weeks after spending six weeks in South America. |