CCTV shows accused ‘with body in suitcase’

THE jury in the trial of the man accused of murdering British backpacker Grace Millane was shown CCTV footage of the suspect moving a suitcase allegedly containing the victim’s body on a luggage trolley into a lift and then loading it into a car.

The video contradicted claims made by the 27-year-old accused, who cannot be named for legal reasons, in a police interview also shown to the court.

The suspect told police he left the 21-year-old after their date at 8pm on Dec 1 last year and spent the evening drinking on his own, before passing out and being carried to his apartment in Auckland, New Zealand, by the concierge, adding that he could not remember everything after 11pm.

Previously Auckland High Court had seen footage of Ms Millane and the suspect entering his apartment’s building on the night she disappeared.

Yesterday the jury saw footage from about 8am the next day, showing the accused leaving the Citylife Hotel, where he lived, and returning minutes later with a new, large suitcase.

The jury also saw video of the man at a supermarket buying cleaning products, and heard that he took a taxi at 10.40am to hire a rental car.

Later that day he met a woman for a date. He first told police he had met a colleague from work. Ms Millane’s body was hidden in his room while he was on the date.

The accused has since admitted Ms Millane died in his apartment and he buried her, but claims her death was accidental.

Ms Millane’s mother, Gill, wept as the new evidence was heard.

On Monday a witness alleged that the accused tried to suffocate her on a date in November. The trial continues.