Two murder trials begin
On the same day, at opposite ends of the country, major trials begin for the alleged murders of two young women. In Dunedin doctor Venod Skantha, 32, denies killing 16-year-old Amber-Rose Rush with a knife in her Dunedin home while in Auckland, a 27-year-old man with name suppression denies the murder of 21-year-old British backpacker Grace Millane.
A jury of seven women and five men have been selected to hear the trial of the man accused of murdering British backpacker Grace Emmie Rose Millane.
The man, 27, who has name suppression, denied a single charge of murder at the High Court at Auckland yesterday.
Grace, 21, died on or before her
22nd birthday between December
1 and 2 last year in Auckland while visiting New Zealand.
Her body was found in the Waita¯ kere Range, west of Auckland, on December 9.
Justice Simon Moore told the pool of 101 prospective jurors that anyone who participated in public marches and vigils held for Grace after her death would not be allowed to serve on the jury.
‘‘Her disappearance, followed by confirmation of her death excited intense media attention both here and overseas,’’ Justice Moore said.
‘‘Vigils were held across the country ... politicians and significant others waded into the debate ... the story took the nation by storm,’’ he said, pointing to the media contingent of about 20.
Justice Moore said it was important the jury had an unbiased mind and should not be swayed by feelings of sympathy and prejudice, but reach a verdict ‘‘coolly and dispassionately’’.
Justice Moore warned the 12
people selected for the jury not to make their own investigations or talk to anyone about the case.
The judge said taking into account information from outside the courtroom would be unfair to the accused, and everyone else involved because that information could not be challenged.
‘‘That is a judicial order and the consequence of breaching that order are, quite frankly, huge.’’ Justice Moore said those consequences could constitute a contempt of court and lead to the jury being discharged.
‘‘As jurors, you must be fearlessly fair,’’ he said.
The Crown is expected to call 36 witnesses, including Grace’s father, David.
Auckland Crown solicitor Brian Dickey heads up the prosecution team alongside cocounsel Robin McCoubrey.
The Crown is expected to make its opening address to the jury tomorrow. An opening statement may be made by the accused’s defence lawyer Ian Brookie or Ron Mansfield.
Senior police officers, including Detective Inspector Scott Beard who was in charge of the case, were in court yesterday.
Members of the public were also in the public gallery, and both New Zealand media and overseas media were present.
The search for Grace was sparked by her parents who became concerned she had not been in contact with them since December 1.
It was unusual as she kept in touch with them and other family and friends daily, they said.
The family was especially worried as she had not responded to messages they sent to mark her birthday on December 2.
Checks at the Base Backpacker hostel in Queen St where she was staying revealed she had not returned there after her Saturday night out.
An appeal for sightings of Grace was made by Auckland police on December 4, who issued a photograph of her wearing a black baseball cap.
More than 18,000 kilometres away, in her home town of Wickford, friends and family frantically began spreading word of her disappearance.
Her body was found days later. The trial is expected to last between four and five weeks and will continue tomorrow.