Body found in hunt for missing tourist
26-year-old man charged with murder of Grace Millane and will appear in court today
New Zealand police said yesterday they found a body they believe to be that of missing 22-year-old British tourist Grace Millane.
Police said the body was in a forested area about 10 metres from the side of the road in the Waitakere Ranges near Auckland.
Millane has been missing since December 1, and failed to contact her family on her birthday December 2.
On Saturday, a 26-year-old man was charged with murder in her case after he was detained for questioning. He is due to make his first court appearance on Monday.
Yearlong trip abroad
Millane was on a planned yearlong trip abroad that began in Peru. She arrived in New Zealand last month and was last seen entering a central Auckland hotel with a man on the evening of December 1.
Detective Inspector Scott Beard told reporters near the crime scene in the Waitakare Ranges police believe Millane’s body was taken to the area in a rental car that was later left in the town of Taupo. ■
Police spent several hours searching the area, which they cordoned off and where they put up a tent, before making the announcement.
“This area was identified late last night as a location of interest as a result of our investigative work,” Beard said. “I can now advise that a short time ago, we located a body, which we believe to be Grace. A formal identification process will now take place, however, based on the evidence we have gathered over the past few days, we expect that this is Grace.”
Millane’s father David Millane travelled from Britain to New Zealand last week.
“It is an unbearable time for the Millane family, and our hearts go out to them,” Beard said.
Before she vanished, had been staying backpacker hostel. Millane at a