Defence case to begin in Millane murder trial

The jurors will find out on Monday whether the man accused of murdering Grace Millane will give evidence in his own defence.

The 27 year-old, who has name suppression, has denied murdering Grace in his Queen St apartment in December, 2018.

The Crown says he strangled Grace before folding her body into a suitcase and burying her in the Waita¯ kere Ranges.

The accused’s lawyers say Grace’s death was an accident that happened during consensual sex.

Head defence lawyer Ian Brookie has signalled he will be calling a pathology expert but so far that is all that is known of the defence case.

Justice Moore reminded the jurors on Thursday not to look at media articles or do any research.

He said the court would not be sitting on Friday and encouraged them to have a restful long weekend.

The Crown called the last of its 32 witnesses on Thursday. One of those was Detective Sergeant Ewen Settle who interviewed the accused on two occasions and got two very different versions of events.

In the first interview the accused said he had simply met up with Grace at SkyCity. The pair had a few cocktails at a burger bar and chatted about their families, work and Grace’s travel plans before parting ways.

Two days later, the accused agreed to give a second interview.

This time he told Settle he and Grace had drinks at three bars before heading back to his apartment where they had rough sex.

But in the morning, the accused said he woke to find Grace on the floor. She wasn’t breathing and there was blood coming from her nose.

The accused admitted he disposed of Grace’s personal items in a rubbish bin at Auckland’s Albert Park, and admitted burying her body.