GUILTY NEW ZEALAND - Grace Millane, 22, British backpacker, Auckland, 1 Dec 2018 #3

[jamjim]

Justice Moore said Millane, who was using the dating app Tinder, was "travelling alone and not unsurprisingly wanted to meet others".

Grace Millane murder: Killer to be sentenced this morning over British backpacker's death

 

[jamjim]

Justice Moore said only two people will ever know what really happened in the killer's apartment, and "one of them is dead".

"So what happened?"

By the jury's verdict, Justice Moore said, the claim of sex gone wrong was rejected.

Even the killer's second police interview, Justice Moore said, contained "demonstrable lies".

He continued to insist that Millane's death was "some terrible accident".

But Justice Moore said: I accept that at some point you and Miss Millane must have discussed BDSM practices."

Grace Millane murder: Killer to be sentenced this morning over British backpacker's death

 

[jamjim]

Justice Moore said some of the killer's lies to police were sprinkled with truth, which he must have known police would discover at some point from CCTV footage or other means.

Grace Millane murder: Killer to be sentenced this morning over British backpacker's death

 

[jamjim]

Justice Moore said the killer will be referred to a psychologist while serving his sentence.

But, the judge said, no mental health issues had been diagnosed to date.

Grace Millane murder: Killer to be sentenced this morning over British backpacker's death

 

[jamjim]

The killer has no previous criminal convctions, Justice Moore said.

Grace Millane murder: Killer to be sentenced this morning over British backpacker's death

 

[CoverMeCagney]

The killer has no previous criminal convictions

...yet

 

[jamjim]

"It is true by all definitions that almost all murders are cruel, brutal and callous in some way," Justice Moore said.

Grace Millane murder: Killer to be sentenced this morning over British backpacker's death

 

[jamjim]

The jury by its verdict, Justice Moore added, was satisifed that the killer was at least "reckless" as to whether Millane died or not when he had his hands around her neck.

Grace Millane murder: Killer to be sentenced this morning over British backpacker's death

 

[jamjim]

The judge said it was common ground that at some point during Millane's stangulation she would have lost consciousness, but it remains uncertain exactly when.

"We do not know if Miss Millane struggled, she most likely did," Justice Moore said.

Grace Millane murder: Killer to be sentenced this morning over British backpacker's death

 

[jamjim]

Justice Moore said he accepts that the bruises found on Millane's arms were consistant with "restraint".

Grace Millane murder: Killer to be sentenced this morning over British backpacker's death

 

[Alyce]

Daily Mail covering this and giving full disclosure of name and photos

 

[jamjim]

Justice Moore said he agreed with the Crown that manual strangulation is a "particularly intimate" way to die.

Grace Millane murder: Killer to be sentenced this morning over British backpacker's death

 

[jamjim]

Justice Moore said this is not a case where the strangulation was driven by rage or was premeditated.

But, he continued, there can be "no doubt" Millane was vulnerable.

"You were a stranger, she trusted you," the judge told the killer.

Grace Millane murder: Killer to be sentenced this morning over British backpacker's death

 

[jamjim]

"You are a large and powerful man, she was diminutive," Justice Moore said.

"You were in a position of total physical dominance."

Grace Millane murder: Killer to be sentenced this morning over British backpacker's death

 

[jamjim]

Justice Moore said: "I find, as a fact, that Miss Millane must have died before 1.29am on December 2, 2018."

He said this because the killer at that time began searching the internet for "Waitakere Ranges" and "hottest fire".

Grace Millane murder: Killer to be sentenced this morning over British backpacker's death

 

[jamjim]

Justice Moore said the killer's photographs of Millane's naked body was rightly described as "depraved".

He said these were not the actions of someone panicking but rather underscored the total lack of empathy and objectification of Millane.

Grace Millane murder: Killer to be sentenced this morning over British backpacker's death

 

[jamjim]

Justice Moore said the killer could claim little credit for telling police where Millane's body was buried.

He said the police were already "close on your heels".

Grace Millane murder: Killer to be sentenced this morning over British backpacker's death

 

[jamjim]

Justice Moore said the starting point for the killer's minimum period of imprisonment should be 17 years.

Grace Millane murder: Killer to be sentenced this morning over British backpacker's death

 

[jamjim]

"I accept that you had a volatile upbringing, and that may well have influenced the person you are today," the judge told the killer.

Justice Moore said he could find "no factors" shifting the killer's culpability.

Grace Millane murder: Killer to be sentenced this morning over British backpacker's death

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Justice Moore said the starting point for the killer's minimum period of imprisonment should be 17 years.

Grace Millane murder: Killer to be sentenced this morning over British backpacker's death

I'd like at least 22 please, since he killed Grace on her 22nd birthday