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

[Tortoise]

I was wondering why he had kept the photos he took of Grace but now I see the police acted so quickly and when he first went in for questioning (with his story about him and Grace parting ways that evening) he never went 'home' again, seemingly. He'd very conveniently left his phone in the apartment. Who does that?

"An iPhone found in the accused's apartment contained intimate photos of a woman, the Crown says is Grace, and internet searches of where to find large suitcases, places to hire cars, and sites."

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


Plus timeline here showing Grace was reported missing by her family on December 5th, his police interview on December 6th, and search of his room on December 7th

Grace Millane murder trial: Prosecutors reveal British backpacker's last moments and what her accused killer did next


"Det Settle confirms to the court that sometime after the end of the video, the accused asks to see a lawyer. Defence lawyer Ian Brookie soon arrives."

Grace Millane murder trial: Live updates as police interview, CCTV footage shown to jury

 

[Tortoise]

rsbm

I was going to say surely this guy can't come out with anything more ridiculous? But let's watch over the next few days, I bet he does!

What about buying drinks for 20 odd Chinese people he met while crossing the road. In a dusty nameless bar. Probably to explain where all his cash went, rather than admitting it went on car rental, suitcases, and rug doctor.

 

[Edinlass]

What about buying drinks for 20 odd Chinese people he met while crossing the road. In a dusty nameless bar. Probably to explain where all his cash went, rather than admitting it went on car rental, suitcases, and rug doctor.

Fantasist eh.

 

[Edinlass]

I hope they release the interview footage showing Grace and him pictured in his lift. I think i‘d pay to see his reaction. Great police work in this case, I’m impressed. We are used to grainy, barely visible CCTV here in the UK, I’m stunned at how clear it is!

 

[Lass from Yorkshire]

How would having her wits about her helped Grace? It's a genuine question. I hope this doesn't come across as victim blaming at all because that's not my intention, but if a killer's gonna kill, what can I do/look out for to ensure it's not me? Obviously the woman who went on the date with him after he murdered Grace sensed something was off, took a cab home and said a clear 'no' to another date. Grace did not have any sense she was in danger until it was too late. Was he more convincing? Did she miss red flags? From everything I've heard, she just had no way of knowing what was awaiting her. And that's what scares me. It could be any man, any woman, any encounter.

Sorry just to clarify that was not a comment specifically related to Grace. There’s no way she could have known what she was getting herself into. I mean more as a general rule of thumb you have to believe there are good people out there, you can’t go through each day presuming someone is capable of hurting/killing you.

I try and listen to my gut instinct as much as possible but at the end of the day it offers no guarantee, all we can do is try and be weary on some level but also think it’s important to go out there and live life knowing the majority of people are good.

 

[LucyRocket]

Ugh, I've just watched the footage of him stood at the door, asking the detective if he's been arrested for something he hasn't done. The stupid OTT outward breath he does when the detective says he hasn't been arrested for anything. It's like he thought they would let him go and he had got away with it at that point. Definitely not the sharpest tool in the box, is he.

Nope. But you are about to be charged with something you HAVE done

 

[Mariposa]

What about buying drinks for 20 odd Chinese people he met while crossing the road. In a dusty nameless bar. Probably to explain where all his cash went, rather than admitting it went on car rental, suitcases, and rug doctor.

Yes, that mysterious dusty old bar with no Heineken or Corona on offer

 

[sunnynz]

Yes, that mysterious dusty old bar with no Heineken or Corona on offer

To be fair that is a common thing here - many bars are contracted to one or the other of the two big breweries. So he said this was a Lion bar which meant no Heineken, no corona etc. what an odd detail to lie about when making up a fictitious rickety bar!

 

[sunnynz]

RSBM I read it as the early hours of the morning of the 2nd ...

"Analysis of the phone's contents found internet searches for "Waitakere Ranges" and "hottest fire" were made in the early hours of December 2. Further searches for "bags", "car hire", "rigor mortis", "time in london", "beaches" and "Rug Doctor" were made." (From: Grace Millane murder trial: Evidence of backpacker's demise found in accused killer's room)

The London thing jumped out at me too. Was he wondering how long he had until her family would be contacting grace for her birthday?

 

[Edinlass]

The London thing jumped out at me too. Was he wondering how long he had until her family would be contacting grace for her birthday?

Think you’re defo onto something there. Hopefully the prosecution do too.

 

[sunnynz]

To add ... is it just ne, ir is showing the suitcase in the ground just a step too far?

I can’t recall any trial where the media have released details of evidence (eg internet searches, extremely detailed timeline) plus so much cctv and photographic evidence so prolifically. In some ways I obviously appreciate it and find it fascinating, but I also feel it’s verging on voyeurism.

 

[Kikixxxx]

Yeah I’m shocked at how much is being released too. Is this typical for NZ ?? Here in the uk you might get 1 or 2 pictures released at the end of a trial if there’s been a guilty verdict but even that’s quite rare to be honest

 

[LucyRocket]

To add ... is it just ne, ir is showing the suitcase in the ground just a step too far?

Seeing the suitcase on the trolley was too much for me

 

[mrjitty]

To be fair that is a common thing here - many bars are contracted to one or the other of the two big breweries. So he said this was a Lion bar which meant no Heineken, no corona etc. what an odd detail to lie about when making up a fictitious rickety bar!

I suspect it was based on a real bar he goes to

 

[jamjim]

Hi guys, I'll be out for the first hour or so of the trial today, so please post updates and I'll catch up when I get home later! I wonder what today will bring.

 

[Alyce]

The final Crown witnesses in the case against the man accused of murdering Grace Millane are expected to be called on Thursday.

The 27 year-old accused, whose name is suppressed, has denied a charge of murder. The Crown says he strangled Grace in his Queen St apartment, in December, 2018.
The man's lawyers say Grace's death was an accident during consensual sex, following a Tinder date and visits to three inner-city bars on the eve of her 22nd birthday.

Before rising on Wednesday, Justice Simon Moore told the jurors at the High Court in Auckland that the trial was making good progress and the Crown would likely finish calling evidence on Thursday.
But before that happens, the second and final recorded interview the accused gave to police will be played in court.

In the second interview, described by prosecutor Robin McCoubrey in his opening address last week, the accused changed his story. He told police Grace did in fact came back to his apartment.

The Court is unlikely to sit on Friday before the accused's lawyers will be asked whether their client is giving and/or calling evidence.

What was set down for a five week trial could be over in as little as three weeks.

Grace Millane murder trial: Court set to watch accused's second interview

 

[stephaniejanes]

The final Crown witnesses in the case against the man accused of murdering Grace Millane are expected to be called on Thursday.

The 27 year-old accused, whose name is suppressed, has denied a charge of murder. The Crown says he strangled Grace in his Queen St apartment, in December, 2018.
The man's lawyers say Grace's death was an accident during consensual sex, following a Tinder date and visits to three inner-city bars on the eve of her 22nd birthday.

Before rising on Wednesday, Justice Simon Moore told the jurors at the High Court in Auckland that the trial was making good progress and the Crown would likely finish calling evidence on Thursday.
But before that happens, the second and final recorded interview the accused gave to police will be played in court.

In the second interview, described by prosecutor Robin McCoubrey in his opening address last week, the accused changed his story. He told police Grace did in fact came back to his apartment.

The Court is unlikely to sit on Friday before the accused's lawyers will be asked whether their client is giving and/or calling evidence.

What was set down for a five week trial could be over in as little as three weeks.

Grace Millane murder trial: Court set to watch accused's second interview

What's everyone thinking - will there be any witnesses for the defence, possibly the "accused" himself?

Also wondering who the crown will finish with - obviously the final police interview will likely take up a significant portion of the day.

 

[Elainera]

The London thing jumped out at me too. Was he wondering how long he had until her family would be contacting grace for her birthday?

That's what I think too!

 

[LucyRocket]

I reckon he'd be advised not to. But what else have they got?

 

[libramoon175]

That's what I think too!

Wasn't her phone found on his bed? If so, he could have seen her messages. Her friend said something like 'tell me what happens tomorrow' so he could have been wondering how he had before she messaged again.