Suspect pleads not guilty to murdering British backpacker in New Zealand
THE man accused of killing 22-year-old British backpacker Grace Millane in New Zealand pleaded not guilty yesterday at Auckland’s high court.
Jesse Kempson, 27, stood in the dock with his hands clasped in front of him as he denied murder. He is due to stand trial from Nov 4.
Ms Millane, from Essex, died around Dec 1 while travelling in New Zealand on a year-long trip after graduating from the University of Lincoln. Her family raised concerns after she failed to make contact for several days, including on her 22nd birthday.
She had been staying at a hostel but was last seen entering the Citylife Hotel with Mr Kempson on the night of Dec 1. Police later found her body in dense bushland, about 30ft from a highway outside Auckland.
David Millane, her father, flew to New Zealand following her disappearance and stayed for a week as police uncovered evidence about her last movements, leading eventually to the discovery of her body.
A funeral last week at Brentwood Cathedral in Essex was attended by Det Insp Scott Beard, the New Zealand officer who oversaw the investigation into her death.
Her death prompted vigils across New Zealand and Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister, issued an emotional public apology to Ms Millane’s family.
“Your daughter should have been safe here and she wasn’t and I’m sorry for that,” she said. In thanking the police, Mr Millane and said he hoped his daughter’s murder would not prevent people going out to explore the world. He said in Auckland last month: “Grace was not born here and only managed to stay a few weeks but you have taken her to your hearts and in some small way she will forever be a Kiwi.
“We all hope that what has happened to Grace will not deter even one person from venturing out into the world.”
At the court in Auckland, Justice Simon Moore ordered that Mr Kempson be kept in custody.
He appears again in court on April 3. The trial in November is expected to last three weeks.