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

[TheLondonEye]

Yes, based on facts we already have. You say:
"Unfortunately when this story first came out I knew she was dead immediately. There are very few first-time solo travellers that will go to the other side of the world and do something spontaneous for a few days to celebrate their birthday when they’ve just arrived in a new city. With a hostel full of people to meet there’s no way you’d choose to spend such an important day with a Tinder date you barely know."

You didn't know she was dead immediately. You suspected it. So did many of us. But you're presenting these things as facts when they're not. Many people go to new cities and choose to spend their evenings out in social situations, meeting new people. She likely wouldn't have known the people in the hostel well at that point, so why would she be more likely to spend a night with them?

<modsnip>

Obviously it was pretty clear she was dead when she didn't contact her family on her birthday, despite contacting them every single day of her travels previously. <modsnip - rude>

<modsnip>

 

[cluciano63]

If Tinder was used...is that really a standard dating app? I thought it was a “hook-up” app, as in “let’s meet right now” hence the finding of people within 20 minutes or so of where you are right then. Whereas with most dating apps I know that friends use they chat for days or weeks or longer before meeting, if ever. Tinder seems more like a last minute thing? Anyway...just wondering. The Tinder part came out so early it seems there might be something to it imo.

 

[mrjitty]

I suspect we won't get many more answers until the Jan High Court hearing.

 

[suzyjackson]

If Tinder was used...is that really a standard dating app? I thought it was a “hook-up” app, as in “let’s meet right now” hence the finding of people within 20 minutes or so of where you are right then. Whereas with most dating apps I know that friends use they chat for days or weeks or longer before meeting, if ever. Tinder seems more like a last minute thing? Anyway...just wondering. The Tinder part came out so early it seems there might be something to it imo.

I'm by no means an expert on dating apps but I thought Tinder was quite a "respectable" one for want of a better word. It may be different in NZ but the people I know who use it in England are genuinely looking for something more, afaik it's not for hook ups. I don't think we know yet for sure that they met via an app yet do we?

 

[Elainera]

Wait, what? How do people know the pink bracelet was for a gambling event? Link?

It was in one of the msm articles ....

Oh wait, but you read them all very carefully don't you ....

 

[Elainera]

Of course I'm making assumptions. I did say beforehand I had a theory. I thought this was a forum in which we could discuss possibilities? That's why I said 'I suspect', 'I think', 'perhaps' etc.

Jeez...

You did everything correct and presented a good theory. Welcome to WS LondonEye!

 

[libramoon175]

Obviously it was pretty clear she was dead when she didn't contact her family on her birthday, despite contacting them every single day of her travels previously. <modsnip - rude>

<modsnip>

Lost phone?
Dead battery, lost charger?
Been in an accident, for example a vehicle accident, and in the hospital?

I don't think I'm being unreasonable by cautioning against jumping to conclusions.<modsnip - personalizing>

 

[Jennifer17]

Lost phone?
Dead battery, lost charger?
Been in an accident, for example a vehicle accident, and in the hospital?

I don't think I'm being unreasonable by cautioning against jumping to conclusions. <modsnip - personalizing>

Well she did end up murdered. You do not have to 'jump to conclusions' IMO, to suspect that foul play has occurred when someone who has been in contact suddenly stops contact and there have been no sightings of her.
If she was in a significant accident in NZ and was unable to identify herself, it would be headline news all over NZ.

 

[Tortoise]

Obviously it was pretty clear she was dead when she didn't contact her family on her birthday, despite contacting them every single day of her travels previously. <modsnip - rude>

<modsnip>

Hello, and welcome to the forum.

I have found this thread (in general) compared to the others at WS on which I post has a bit of a frosty atmosphere to it at times. I didn't find anything you said to be misleading.

I agree, Grace also did not send her brother a birthday greeting on his birthday, the 4th of December, which was out of character for her.

 

[Satchie]

Wait a sec....

"We" shouldn't say this or jump to that conclusion? Is that the royal we?

If someone wants to reserve their own opinion until more information comes out, that's great. But on a discussion forum , people come to discuss and throw out theories.

Especially if there's going to be a long pause before new information comes out, the discussion will get very theoretical.

 

[Tortoise]

She has two mobile phones with her in New Zealand but calls go straight to voicemail.

rsbm

Posting in answer to the lost phone idea put forward.

 

[mrjitty]

People do go missing of course, but it is not really feasible for a backpacker to go missing off Queen Street for days leaving all her belongings behind.

At that stage abduction is on the table at least.

 

[Tortoise]

Would she have needed to carry her passport with her as proof of her age to get admission to the bars or casinos?

 

[TheLondonEye]

Would she have needed to carry her passport with her as proof of her age to get admission to the bars or casinos?

I’m not sure how strict the bars are in NZ but it’s not unheard of. Quite a few travellers prefer to keep their passports with them because sometimes people break in to lockers in shared dorm rooms when everyone is out.

 

[Jennifer17]

Would she have needed to carry her passport with her as proof of her age to get admission to the bars or casinos?

She would have to have some form of photo ID with her birth date in Australia, and we are very much alike regarding rules and stuff.

 

[shadowdancer]

When is he next due in court? It must be January for the name suppression appeal, but beyond that, when is he likely to stand trail? Are there any other court appearances before that?

Sorry if I have missed this, but life is busy for me right now and I just can't keep up with the pace of this case.

 

[Tortoise]

When is he next due in court? It must be January for the name suppression appeal, but beyond that, when is he likely to stand trail? Are there any other court appearances before that?

Sorry if I have missed this, but life is busy for me right now and I just can't keep up with the pace of this case.

January 23rd is his next court date other than the name suppression appeal hearing.

 

[shadowdancer]

January 23rd is his next court date other than the name suppression appeal hearing.

Thank you.

Does anyone know how long it typically takes for cases like this to go to trail in New Zealand?

Can the defense lawyers put any delays on it?

 

[Elitana]

I realise reporting is still confused so maybe it would be helpful to posters if we summarise the published info?

The victim was staying at Base in central AKL - make sense for a backpacker. This is located on Queen Street

The murder took place at a room at City Life - also on Queen Street.

When charged, according to reporting in the Telegraph, the accused address was given as City Life Hotel. This may be simply because he was booked in there. I think we can rule our the victim booking a room there and be certain the accused had a room there.

I also saw reported in the Daily Mail, that he lived elsewhere on Queen Street, but I now wonder if this was a mixup based on the street address.

So overall, I would say it is currently completely unclear where he had been living since his flatmates kicked him out of his AKL flat.

I have also been wondering, given the efforts at name suppression, whether the grandparents are a wealthy/known family. It's interesting in the reporting, even in the UK, they have not been named, which makes me suspect their media work is professionally handled.[/QUOTE
I Don't believe they are a wealthy known family. Just that the name supression for the accused

I think proper reporting is intact. He's a soccer player with military and police in 2010. Since then he has been out of contact with his community and family. The family says the reason that he is out of contact is because his parents divorced as a child.

Are any family members still "back in Oz?"

Actually pretty sure it was softball he played. Not necessarily out of contact due to divorce, may just have gone off and done his own thing. Clearly some family history that impacted him distancing himself or them distancing themselves.

 

[SandyQLS]

THEORY: Per expedia, the CityLife has many amenities including a restaurant and bar. She looked happy, alert and relaxed in the released CCTV lobby photo. What if they were looking for food and/or drink, and he suggested the CityLife? He is after all the local who knows the good places. He could have put a date rape drug in her drink while there, and no one would think anything of a young man assisting his tipsy gf to the elevators and rooms. She may never have known he had a room there or lived there. Maybe she thought she was safe because she expected to only be in crowed public places, the casino, etc.

CityLife Auckland: 2018 Room Prices $122, Deals & Reviews | Expedia