Father says backpacker murder conviction ‘will not reduce pain’

THE FATHER of murdered British backpacker Grace Millane has said the conviction of his daughter’s killer “will not reduce the pain and suffering” the family have endured since her death.

David Millane said his daughter “will be missed forever” as he left Auckland High Court in New Zealand, almost a year after she was throttled by the killer whom she met on dating site Tinder, before he stuffed her body in a suitcase and disposed of it.

He will be sentenced on February

21 after a jury of seven women and five men took five hours to return a unanimous guilty verdict after a two-week trial.

A court order in New Zealand has stopped media naming and picturing him to ensure he got a fair trial, and though it remains formally in place in the country, he has now been convicted.

Ms Millane’s parents, David and Gillian, wept after the verdict was delivered, as did several jurors. Speaking outside court, an emotional Mr Millane said: “It will not reduce the pain and suffering we have had to endure over the past year.

“Grace was taken in the most brutal fashion a year ago and our lives have been ripped apart. Grace was our sunshine and she will be missed forever.”

Ms Millane, from Wickford, Essex, met her killer, who had reportedly just been sacked from his job as a salesman, for a date in the centre of Auckland on December 1 2018.

After several drinks, the pair returned to his flat.

She was killed either that night or in the early hours of the next morning – the date of her 22nd birthday.

The Crown successfully argued he strangled her and shoved her body inside a suitcase before burying her in a forested area outside Auckland.

Phone records show he had viewed pornography, taken photos of Ms Millane’s body and searched for “rigor mortis”, “extra large bags”, “carpet cleaner”, “hottest fire” and “Waitakere Ranges” – the young woman’s gravesite.

She was assumed missing, and her father flew to New Zealand as local authorities spent a week searching for her body until the discovery was made. Jurors rejected the defence claim that the death was accidental and occurred during rough sexual intercourse.

A former team-mate of the killer, who played amateur softball, told MailOnline: “He was creepy towards girls. His life revolved around girls, talking to girls.

“He was always trying to get with younger girls... he was very quiet around the boys.”

The trial heard that the killer was initially interviewed by police because he left a comment on one of Ms Millane’s Facebook photos.

He had said the pair went their separate ways after their date, but later admitted Ms Millane was dead, but said he did not murder her. The killer then took police to where she was buried.

During the trial, jurors heard from forensic experts who examined the killer’s apartment for blood stains as well as Ms Millane’s body.

They were also shown footage of her and her murderer drinking at various bars in the city and kissing before they went to his flat.

He was remanded into custody until his sentencing, when he faces life in prison with a minimum of 10 years without parole, though the judge can increase the latter period.

He was creepy towards girls. His life revolved around girls, talking to girls.

Former team-mate of the killer.