Found Deceased NEW ZEALAND - Grace Millane, 22, British backpacker, Auckland, 1 Dec 2018 *Arrest* #2

[cybervampira]

Police searching for missing British woman in Auckland

Grace Millane, 22, arrived in New Zealand about two weeks ago and has been in constant contact with her family via messaging service WhatsApp.

But they became alarmed when she didn't respond to birthday messages on Sunday.

Her older brother Michael Millane said they last spoke on Thursday, November 29, and concerns for her safety were mounting.

"She has not been back to her hostel room since [December 1]," her brother Michael Millane said.

The young tourist had been staying at Base Backpackers on Auckland's Queen St.



Family appealing for information after English backpacker goes missing in Auckland central

Thread #1

 

[jamjim]

"The court has adjourned for the day and the trial will resume on Monday."

Grace Millane murder trial: Evidence of backpacker's demise 'cleaned up' from accused's apartment

 

[Mariposa]

Sorry if posted but some of these details were new to me— from Radio NZ story
Grace Millane trial: Accused man's search history detailed


It began at 1.29am with the search term 'Waitākere Ranges' and then 'hottest fire' a few minutes later.

Detective Samuel Luker told the court the defendant then watched pornography on several websites before a 30-minute break.

The court heard he took seven explicit photographs of Ms Millane's body and her lower leg and foot in quick succession about 1.45am.

...

Police also found two screenshots of Ms Millane's Instagram profile saved to his phone.

 

[jamjim]

Am I correct that none of Grace’s clothing from that night was ever found?

Yes that's right. I remember the police saying her watch and necklace were missing before they had found her body. I know they have since said they found a pair of hoop earrings and a metal 'tag' in the suitcase with her, but I'm not sure if that was the necklace or not. To me her necklace looked like a green stone of some kind on a chain. I'm guessing they knew the items were missing from the photos on the suspect's phone...

ETA: oh, and her passport was missing as well.

 

[Kikixxxx]

Why has the court been adjourned so early today? At 1pm? Is that normal?

 

[Kikixxxx]

The name suppression thing bothers me. I’m thinking it’s either due to the defence arguing he won’t get a fair trial as public interest has been so high over this case or that he’s been involved in/charged with something previously that they don’t want the public/jury to know about incase it influences their decision? Say a rape charge or something like that. I’m completely speculating though. I just find it odd? There’s definitely a reason. The uk media named him when he was first charged but now they are blocking his face out and referring to him as ‘the accused’ when we all know who he is at this point.

 

[sunnynz]

I'd be interested to see a room layout plan, to see where the kitchen and bathroom are, in relation to the bedroom.

I've been inside a couple of rooms at the hotel - it's very much an apartment-style hotel. 3-4 star, not overly fancy but still a 'nice' place to stay. The rooms I saw had an open plan style living and kitchen area, with a separate bedroom through a doorway and an ensuite bathroom off the bedroom. But I think they also have studio style rooms where the living and bedroom are in one space - not sure if those have a kitchen though.

 

[sunnynz]

The name suppression thing bothers me. I’m thinking it’s either due to the defence arguing he won’t get a fair trial as public interest has been so high over this case or that he’s been involved in/charged with something previously that they don’t want the public/jury to know about incase it influences their decision? Say a rape charge or something like that. I’m completely speculating though. I just find it odd? There’s definitely a reason. The uk media named him when he was first charged but now they are blocking his face out and referring to him as ‘the accused’ when we all know who he is at this point.

I can't get my head around the reason either. When I first found out his name I did extensive googling on him and couldn't find him mentioned in any other reported crimes. But of course that doesn't mean he wasn't involved in something. The only info on him I could find was around his sporting successes but those were at a youth amateur level, nothing that would warrant suppression.

I know of two people in a wider circle of Auckland who had talked about scary/creepy tinder dates with the guy. He had a rep. He had recently returned from living overseas so maybe there's something overseas we don't know about.

I've wondered if the guy is some kind of trustafarian

Living in a Citylife apartment doesn't come cheap, and it doesn't appear that he had a job

From memory when I googled him, and from some early news reports - he wasn't from a wealthy family but had been lent a sum of money (not sure how much) by an older relative which he might have been living off.

Yes - that is one of the more likely scenarios.

My wild speculation is that the suppression is to protect a third party somehow. He has quite high powered representation.

Even the lowliest murderers with no money and connections can get very good representation from high powered QCs. I have no idea how the system works, whether the best lawyers like to take on the higher profile cases?

 

[Kikixxxx]

I know he has a daughter so could it be to protect her? Personally I doubt the courts would factor that in. It is odd though. I was certain it would be lifted around January time as the first judge declined the name suppression so his lawyer appealed but it was granted in the end...

Seeing the pictures of the room make his version of events extremely hard to believe, he didn’t see her on the floor as he came back from the shower??! Really? Also if his story is true.. when did he take the pictures of her body? His defence says he didn’t know she was there until the morning when he woke up. (6.30am judging by his phone activity) But I’m sure he was googling pornography and taking Intimate pictures of her dead body around 1.45am.... so that doesn’t add up for a start!

 

[Elainera]

"A mixed DNA profile was also obtained from the carpet underlay.

It showed two people - a male and female.

Thomas-Stone said the major profile component of the DNA found corresponded with that of Millane's.

He said this result was 300,000 million times more likely to be Millane's DNA and an unknown person than two random people in the general New Zealand population.

Once again, Thomas-Stone said this was extremely strong scientific support that Millane had contributed the majority of the DNA on the carpet underlay.

DNA found on bag was also 200,000 million times more likely to have come from Millane, he told the court."

Grace Millane murder trial: Traces of blood found on fridge in accused's room

bbm

Who is the unknown male from this mixed DNA profile? Surely they would have tested it against the accused and thus know it was not from him? Does that mean there is a DNA profile from another male? Mixed with Grace's blood?

 

[jamjim]

"DNA expert Turlough Thomas-Stone said "no male DNA was detected" in samples taken from the woman's fingernails and from the suitcase in which her body was found.

But he added that "damp, moisture, exposure to the elements" can make it harder to identify DNA samples taken from grave sites.

He added: "Given the time between the alleged event and the taking of these samples, that could be a potential explanation (for the absence of male DNA)."

Grace Millane: Blood sample in murder accused's flat is likely to be hers, court told

 

[mrjitty]

Yeah I was wondering if he was gainfully employed at this time last year.
It crossed my mind that maybe he was going through her purse to steal cash or other valuables.
The hotel room isn’t as impressive as I was picturing especially for ones primary residence but I suppose the location is the thing.

I've stayed at City Life with the family before when transiting through AKL - it's a fairly standard upmarket place aimed at corporate travel.

I don't know if you get long term stay discounts, but you are looking at NZD2-300 per night. So you probably are talking at least $6k pcm. So even by AKL standards that is a lot of money for one person unless you have a very good job, or are independently wealthy.

My wild speculation is this guy is tied into a big family of some kind - and that is where the name suppression comes in.

Just my 02c

 

[mrjitty]

He was probably doing odd jobs on the fly, temp agency work, or making money illegally, although he may have been employed on standard office hours work so he could focus on his obsession with chasing women and arranging dates in the evenings.

You can't make enough money that way - unless he somehow saved up a whole pot of money and then was blowing it all at once

 

[jamjim]

Accommodation in Auckland City | CityLife Auckland

If you scroll down, you can view photos of the different types of room available at CityLife.

 

[mrjitty]

Diana Kappatos, who performed a post mortem toxicology report, said Grace's blood alcohol content was double that of the legal limit in New Zealand.

Grace's blood had 106 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood. The legal limit is 50 milligrams per 100 milliliters.

However, she said the alcohol present at the time the report was done might not have been the same as when Grace was alive.

There was no evidence to suggest the use of any recreational drugs, she told the court.

Grace Millane murder trial: Evidence of backpacker's demise 'cleaned up' from accused's apartment

That is actually not very high.

I could probably achieve that level if I drank 4 glasses of wine in 2 hrs

 

[mrjitty]

I can't get my head around the reason either. When I first found out his name I did extensive googling on him and couldn't find him mentioned in any other reported crimes. But of course that doesn't mean he wasn't involved in something. The only info on him I could find was around his sporting successes but those were at a youth amateur level, nothing that would warrant suppression.

I know of two people in a wider circle of Auckland who had talked about scary/creepy tinder dates with the guy. He had a rep. He had recently returned from living overseas so maybe there's something overseas we don't know about.



From memory when I googled him, and from some early news reports - he wasn't from a wealthy family but had been lent a sum of money (not sure how much) by an older relative which he might have been living off.

Even the lowliest murderers with no money and connections can get very good representation from high powered QCs. I have no idea how the system works, whether the best lawyers like to take on the higher profile cases?

Thanks to the legal aid system everyone gets quality defence, but the immediate application for name suppression and going to appeal on that issue leads me to speculate that a well resourced party is somehow obliquely involved in this.

 

[mrjitty]

I know he has a daughter so could it be to protect her? Personally I doubt the courts would factor that in. It is odd though. I was certain it would be lifted around January time as the first judge declined the name suppression so his lawyer appealed but it was granted in the end...

There will be something specific/unusual we don't know about, which is why we shouldn't get worried without knowing the reason.

The one thing I will keep pointing out is there is something odd about a guy with apparently no career / job who can afford to live full time in central AKL in a hotel.

But again details are so sparse. How long was he there? Was he blowing a bunch of money he saved up from Oz?

So much weirdness

 

[mrjitty]

Now we just need to know where the fridge was in relation to the bed. Please reporter.

Agreed

If it is castoff, this destroys his version, unless somehow he deposited it during the the cleaning process?

But otherwise, the blood from Grace, which should not have been a large amount, would have dried by the time he supposedly noticed

Castoff is suggestive of a violent struggle

 

[jaejae]

Here are a few more reports about the case:

‘I click with him’, backpacker Grace Millane said of alleged killer

This one form the Daily Mail:

Someone with bloody footprints walked around Auckland apartment where Grace Millane died | Daily Mail Online

This one from Sky News:

Grace Millane: Last image of her alive as she texted friend that she'd 'clicked' with alleged killer

 

[L White]

There will be something specific/unusual we don't know about, which is why we shouldn't get worried without knowing the reason.

The one thing I will keep pointing out is there is something odd about a guy with apparently no career / job who can afford to live full time in central AKL in a hotel.

But again details are so sparse. How long was he there? Was he blowing a bunch of money he saved up from Oz?

So much weirdness

Wasn't he said to be an 'oil manager' or ws that a lie he told? I also heard he was into the whole crypto currency thing?