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Grace Millane murder: Mum confronts killer in court | Grace Millane murder: Mum confronts killer in court |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The mother of a woman murdered in New Zealand has told her killer she thinks about "the terror and pain she must have experienced at your hand". | The mother of a woman murdered in New Zealand has told her killer she thinks about "the terror and pain she must have experienced at your hand". |
A 28-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been jailed for life for strangling Grace Millane while on a Tinder date in December 2018. | A 28-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been jailed for life for strangling Grace Millane while on a Tinder date in December 2018. |
Her mother Gillian Millane told the killer "she died terrified and alone in your room". | Her mother Gillian Millane told the killer "she died terrified and alone in your room". |
The man was sentenced at Auckland High Court to a minimum of 17 years in jail. | The man was sentenced at Auckland High Court to a minimum of 17 years in jail. |
Mrs Millane, speaking to the court via a video-link and next to a picture of her 21-year-old daughter, told the man she had wanted to take her own life because of the pain he had caused her. | Mrs Millane, speaking to the court via a video-link and next to a picture of her 21-year-old daughter, told the man she had wanted to take her own life because of the pain he had caused her. |
She said: "Grace wasn't just my daughter. She was my friend. My very best friend. | She said: "Grace wasn't just my daughter. She was my friend. My very best friend. |
"I am absolutely heartbroken that you have taken my daughter's future and robbed us of so many memories that we were going to create. | "I am absolutely heartbroken that you have taken my daughter's future and robbed us of so many memories that we were going to create. |
"The tears I shed are never-ending at the thought of never having the chance to kiss my Grace goodbye." | "The tears I shed are never-ending at the thought of never having the chance to kiss my Grace goodbye." |
Her daughter's murderer held his head in his hands as he listened to the impact his "barbaric actions" have had on his victim's family. | Her daughter's murderer held his head in his hands as he listened to the impact his "barbaric actions" have had on his victim's family. |
Sentencing the man, Justice Simon Moore described the murderer's actions after the killing, including searching for pornography, as "conduct that underscores a lack of empathy and sense of self-entitlement and objectification". | Sentencing the man, Justice Simon Moore described the murderer's actions after the killing, including searching for pornography, as "conduct that underscores a lack of empathy and sense of self-entitlement and objectification". |
He said: "You are a large and powerful man. She was diminutive. You were in a position of total physical dominance." | He said: "You are a large and powerful man. She was diminutive. You were in a position of total physical dominance." |
But he also stated the defence should not have been criticised on social media for pursuing a defence that Ms Millane had died during a consensual sex act as, even though the jury found this was not the case, this was the defendant's right. | But he also stated the defence should not have been criticised on social media for pursuing a defence that Ms Millane had died during a consensual sex act as, even though the jury found this was not the case, this was the defendant's right. |
From the courtroom | From the courtroom |
Simon Atkinson, BBC News, Auckland | Simon Atkinson, BBC News, Auckland |
Just before sentencing began, the Millanes tweaked the webcam that would beam their statements from an Essex living room. | Just before sentencing began, the Millanes tweaked the webcam that would beam their statements from an Essex living room. |
There were smiles and small talk - like the sort of video calls families make across the globe. Then the mood changed. | There were smiles and small talk - like the sort of video calls families make across the globe. Then the mood changed. |
First came Grace's sister-in-law, Victoria. Tearful as she told how her two-year-old daughter would never get to properly know her auntie Grace. | First came Grace's sister-in-law, Victoria. Tearful as she told how her two-year-old daughter would never get to properly know her auntie Grace. |
Then brother Declan. His mental health suffering. Part of his life taken away. But most of all devastated that he hadn't been able to protect his little sister. | Then brother Declan. His mental health suffering. Part of his life taken away. But most of all devastated that he hadn't been able to protect his little sister. |
And finally, mum Gillian. | And finally, mum Gillian. |
The killer couldn't, or wouldn't, watch as she spoke. | The killer couldn't, or wouldn't, watch as she spoke. |
"I want you to know I don't think of you," Mrs Millane told him. "Because if I did that means I care about you. And I simply don't." | "I want you to know I don't think of you," Mrs Millane told him. "Because if I did that means I care about you. And I simply don't." |
"I will miss my darling Grace," she went on. "Until the last breath of my body leaves me." | "I will miss my darling Grace," she went on. "Until the last breath of my body leaves me." |
And then silence. | And then silence. |
The killer's lawyer argued he should be given a minimum term of 11 years as "rehabilitation and reintegration remains a real prospect". | The killer's lawyer argued he should be given a minimum term of 11 years as "rehabilitation and reintegration remains a real prospect". |
However, the judge said he could not see how the defendant could serve any less than 17 years. | However, the judge said he could not see how the defendant could serve any less than 17 years. |
Ms Millane, from Wickford in Essex, met her killer on the dating app while travelling in Auckland. | Ms Millane, from Wickford in Essex, met her killer on the dating app while travelling in Auckland. |
The pair spent the evening drinking before returning to the man's room in the CityLife hotel in central Auckland where he killed her. | The pair spent the evening drinking before returning to the man's room in the CityLife hotel in central Auckland where he killed her. |
He then disposed of her body by burying it in a suitcase in the Waitākere Ranges, a mountainous area outside the city. | He then disposed of her body by burying it in a suitcase in the Waitākere Ranges, a mountainous area outside the city. |
He was found guilty of murder last year. | He was found guilty of murder last year. |
Ms Millane's brother Declan Millane told the court she "had a smile to light up the room". | Ms Millane's brother Declan Millane told the court she "had a smile to light up the room". |
He said: "As an older brother I felt a duty to protect my little sister. But there was nothing I could do. I was helpless and lost. | He said: "As an older brother I felt a duty to protect my little sister. But there was nothing I could do. I was helpless and lost. |
"There is no reason behind this unspeakable act." | "There is no reason behind this unspeakable act." |
Det Insp Scott Beard, who led the investigation into Ms Millane's murder, said Auckland City Police's thoughts were with her family. | Det Insp Scott Beard, who led the investigation into Ms Millane's murder, said Auckland City Police's thoughts were with her family. |
"The impact of losing their daughter on her birthday while alone in a foreign country has been significant and no matter what the outcome they will forever have a life sentence," he said. | "The impact of losing their daughter on her birthday while alone in a foreign country has been significant and no matter what the outcome they will forever have a life sentence," he said. |
"Even though their lives have been changed forever we hope with support from family and friends they can now try in some way to move forward with their lives." | "Even though their lives have been changed forever we hope with support from family and friends they can now try in some way to move forward with their lives." |
He added he did not believe "rough sex" should be considered a defence to murder as it "repetitively re-victimises the victim and the victim's family". | |
"Strangling someone for five to 10 minutes until they die is not rough sex," he said. | "Strangling someone for five to 10 minutes until they die is not rough sex," he said. |
"In this case, the Millanes have had to sit through a trial for a number of weeks and their daughter's background, rightly or wrongly, was out in the public. | "In this case, the Millanes have had to sit through a trial for a number of weeks and their daughter's background, rightly or wrongly, was out in the public. |
"I understand why the defence would use it but the bottom line is the individual has killed someone." | "I understand why the defence would use it but the bottom line is the individual has killed someone." |
Why can we not name the killer? | |
The identity of Grace Millane's murderer cannot be disclosed because of a court order that bans media from naming and picturing him. | |
The purpose in New Zealand courts is to protect defendants before they are found guilty, but also to achieve a fair trial by ensuring the jury is not prejudiced by media coverage. | |
Images can also be withheld. | |
Justice Simon Moore ordered that the suppression order which prevents naming the defendant would stay in place indefinitely until lifted by the court. | |
The reasons for the order remaining in place are also suppressed. | |
Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk | Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk |