Grace Millane: Man appears in New Zealand court charged with murder of UK backpacker

A 26-year-old man accused of killing British backpacker Grace Millane appeared in court in Auckland, New Zealand for the first time on Monday.

The defendant was charged with the murder of the 22-year-old late on Saturday, and as he left the court reports suggested a member of the public shouted “scumbag”.

On Sunday police discovered a body in Waitakere Ranges Regional Park, on the outskirts of Auckland which they believe to belong to Ms Millane, from Wickford in Essex.

Detective Inspector Scott Beard told reporters on Sunday that the discovery of the body “brings the search for Grace to an end”.

“It is an unbearable time for the Millane family and our hearts go out to them.”

Court documents allege the killing took place between the 1 December and 2 December – the date of Ms Millane’s 22nd birthday - and the address of the man charged with her murder is given as the same Auckland hotel where the “fun-loving” backpacker was last seen alive.

A judge told Ms Millane’s family: “I don’t know what we can say to you at this time, your grief must be desperate.

“All of us hope justice for grace is fair and swift and ultimately brings you some peace.”

Temporary reporting restrictions currently prevent the defendant being identified. His lawyers have 21 days to appeal a rejected request for his name to be suppressed.

Ms Millane was travelling the world after graduating from university and was last seen alive in a CCTV image from CityLife Hotel.

While the search for her body has ended detectives are now trying to piece together the moments that led up to her death.

They have appealed for anyone who saw a red Toyota Corolla rental car in the area during the early hours of 3 December to come forward.

Ms Millane’s father travelled to New Zealand to appeal for information on her whereabouts and described her as fun-loving and family-oriented.