Grief, shame about tourist’s death
AUCKLAND: A judge yesterday addressed the grieving family of slain British backpacker Grace Millane, saying ‘‘your grief must be desperate’’, while Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern apologised to the family on behalf of New Zealand, noting a mood of ‘‘hurt and shame’’.
The accused was called a ‘‘scumbag’’ by a person in the public gallery as he appeared before the court.
The 26yearold appeared in the Auckland District Court after the discovery of Ms Millane’s body on Sunday in the Waitakere Ranges.
He walked into the dock in the Auckland District Court yesterday wearing a blue boiler suit.
The Millane family was in court for this appearance.
Judge Evangelos Thomas started the hearing by addressing the family.
‘‘All of us hope that justice for Grace is fair and swift and ultimately brings you some peace,’’ Judge Thomas said at the outset of the hearing.
‘‘That will not be happening today. There will be no judgement today.’’
He said there would be several procedural issues which would need to dealt with.
More than a dozen members of the press were also in court for the hearing, including several journalists from British TV news stations and newspapers.
The public gallery was filled with dozens of people for the appearance.
The man’s lawyer, Ian Brookie, sought interim name suppression for his client based on fair trial rights, which was opposed by police, the Millane family and the press.
Judge Thomas declined the application for name suppression. Mr Brookie instantly appealed which automatically imposes a 20working day suppression.
Mr Brookie added he had had ‘‘very limited disclosure’’ of evi dence from police.
The barrister also opposed the several applications from the world’s media to film the accused.
Judge Thomas told the defendant: ‘‘As you will know, the allegations that you face and the background to them have been the source of much media coverage over the last eight or nine days.
‘‘This is your first appearance, there are a number of media here wishing to cover the hearing.’’
The judge said the opening principle was for open justice and granted the media applications.
‘‘If you do go to trial, it will be some time away. A lot of water will have passed under the bridge.’’
Judge Thomas also said the man, who did not apply for bail, was going to be a ‘‘highrisk remand prisoner’’.
Judge Thomas remanded him in custody without plea to the High Court on January 23.
Ms Millane, of Essex, came to New Zealand as part of a yearlong solo OE. She was last seen on CCTV on Saturday, December 1, entering CityLife Hotel with the 26yearold accused of her murder.
Police have not confirmed how the pair met, and refused to
comment on speculation they met on a dating app.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern took the unusual step of apologising to Ms Millane’s family at her postCabinet press conference yesterday, saying the murder was a tragedy.
‘‘I cannot imagine the grief of her family and what they would be experiencing and feeling right now. My thoughts and prayers are with her father, David, who is in the country, her mother, Gillian, who cannot be here, and her wider family and friends and loved ones.
‘‘From the Kiwis I have spoken to, there is this overwhelming sense of hurt and shame that
this has happened in our country, a place that prides itself on our hospitality, on our manaakitanga, especially those visiting our shores.
‘‘On behalf of New Zealand, I want to apologise to Grace’s family.’’
Her voice cracking, Ardern said: ‘‘Your daughter should have been safe here, and she wasn’t, and I’m sorry for that.’’
‘‘We pride ourselves on being a place where people are welcome and where they’re safe, and that hasn’t happened in this case. I feel the sense that New Zealanders found it quite personal,’’ the Prime Minister said. — NZME