The trial so far

Wednesday

Prosecutor Robin McCoubrey delivers the Crown’s opening address, detailing the hours leading up to Millane’s death, how she was allegedly strangled, what the accused did to dispose of her body and his alleged attempts to cover his tracks. Defence lawyer Ian Brookie says the accused admits being with Millane when she died and burying her body, enclosed in a suitcase, in a shallow grave in the Wait¯akere Ranges. But he says Millane’s death, put simply, was an accident and not murder.

A statement from Millane’s father, David, described how his only daughter was living her dream of travelling around the world. Police officers also described finding Millane’s crude grave site, recovering the suitcase she was buried in and transferring her body to the morgue.

Thursday

The jury are shown CCTV footage of Millane and her alleged killer from the day she died. Taken from multiple cameras around the central city, it shows the pair meeting at SkyCity and drinking at various bars. They had connected on dating app Tinder and met for the first time that night, drinking cocktails, beers, ciders and tequila shots before going to the CityLife hotel where the accused lived at the time.

The Crown also details what the accused did after they believe he strangled his date to death. He watched numerous pornographic videos, took intimate photos of a woman believed to be Millane, Googled the Waita¯kere Ranges, “hottest fire”, whether there were flesh-eating birds or vultures in New Zealand and where to buy suitcases. He then went and purchased a suitcase and cleaning products, put Millane in the former and used the latter to try to clean up the scene of the alleged crime.

What may have been the final messages Millane sent to her family or friends are also revealed.