New Zealand police launch murder probe over missing British woman

MELBOURNE: Police searching for a 22-year-old British woman missing in New Zealand have launched a murder investigation and a 26-year-old man is being questioned, investigators said yesterday.

Grace Millane, who was travelling the world after finishing university, went missing a week ago.

She had arrived in New Zealand on Nov 20 and was last seen Dec 1 in central Auckland.

“Our investigation has determined that Grace is no longer alive and this is a murder investigation,” Detective Inspector Scott Beard said.

Beard added that the 26-yearold man, who had been seen with Millane at several places, is “currently speaking to us in relation to the murder of Grace Millane”.

Millane’s father told the media after arriving in New Zealand that his daughter’s year-long trip began in Peru and she would contact the family on daily basis.

In Auckland, she stayed at a backpacker hostel and the family last had contact with her on the day she vanished.

“Grace is a lovely, outgoing, fun-loving, family-oriented daughter,” Millane’s father, David, said.

Beard said that Grace’s family is “devastated”.

“We still do not know where Grace is,” Beard said. “We are determined to find her and return her to her family.” — Reuters