Body of murdered British backpacker found in NZ

WELLINGTON: A body, believed to be that of murdered British backpacker Grace Millane, was found on the outskirts of Auckland, New Zealand police said.

Formal identification would take place today, but police were confident the search for Millane had come to an end.

“Based on the evidence we have gathered over the past few days we expect that this is Grace,” Detective Inspector Scott Beard said yesterday.

“It is an unbearable time for the Millane family and our hearts go out to them.”

A 26-year-old man was arrested on Saturday and charged with murder although no body had been found at that stage.

Beard said then that based on evidence uncovered during the investigation, they knew Grace was no longer alive.

Millane, 22, was last seen alive a week ago entering an inner-city hotel in Auckland with the man.

She was on a year-long worldwide holiday after graduating from university and had kept in daily contact with her family until the night before her 22nd birthday last weekend.

Her father David, who reported her as missing, arrived in New Zealand on Friday and issued an emotional appeal for information relating to the disappearance of his “fun-loving, outgoing and family-orientated” daughter.

Police said there was no suggestion Millane previously knew the man she was seen entering the hotel with, but would not speculate on how they met. — AFP

That one-click purchase at your favourite online store might start looking slightly less tempting.

The government says “increased costs and slower processing times” for payments made in euros are a possibility.

Parcel deliveries could get more expensive because waivers for certain import and sales taxes would expire.

Surprises

A host of other industries and products could also be affected.

Britain will have to come up with its own warning stickers for packs of cigarettes because the current ones are protected by the EU image library.

Imported sperm donations could face delays or stoppages.

Also facing possible disruption: breeders of pedigree British horses and sheep. — AFP