The man accused of murdering British backpacker Grace Millane was jeered in court as his identity was revealed publicly for the first time.

The man accused of murdering British backpacker Grace Millane was jeered in court as his identity was revealed publicly for the first time.

Jesse Kempson (26) was called a “scumbag” by a heckler in the public gallery during his first appearance before a judge at Auckland's District Court in New Zealand, according to The Telegraph.

Kemspon, who has been charged with murder, appeared in a blue boiler suit and sat close to the family of his alleged victim, whose body was found dumped in woodland close to a busy road on Sunday.

It emerged that he left a comment underneath one of Ms Millane's Facebook pictures calling her: "Beautiful very radiant" (sic) just 11 minutes before she was last seen.

Kempson looked at the judge for most of the 90 minutes he was in court, nodding that he understood when spoken to, his eyes only occasionally flicking towards the cameras on the other side of the court.

His next appearance will be in the High Court on January 23.

Ms Millane, 22, went missing from a hostel in Auckland on December 1 and a body was found in the Waitakere Ranges on Sunday.

New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern has given an emotional apology to the family of British backpacker Grace Millane, saying: "Your daughter should have been safe here, and she wasn't, and I'm sorry for that."

Speaking to reporters about the death, Ms Ardern said: "I cannot imagine the grief of her family and what they would be experiencing and feeling right now.

"My thoughts and prayers are with her father David, who is in the country, her mother Gillian, who cannot be here, and her wider family, friends and loved ones.

"From the Kiwis I have spoken to, there is this overwhelming sense of hurt and shame that this has happened in our country, a place that prides itself on our hospitality, on our manaakitanga (a Maori term meaning kindness and generosity) especially to those who are visiting our shores."

Appearing to become choked with emotion, the PM added: "So on behalf of New Zealand, I want to apologise to Grace's family.

"Your daughter should have been safe here, and she wasn't, and I'm sorry for that."

Earlier on Monday in court, Judge Evangelos Thomas told members of the Millane family, who were in court: "Your grief must be desperate.

"All of us hope justice for Grace is fair, swift and ultimately brings you some peace."

Documents submitted to the court suggested police believe the University of Lincoln graduate was killed between December 1 and 2, her birthday.

A charge sheet also listed Kempson as living at the hotel where she was last seen alive.

Detectives said they had identified a "location of interest" after the investigation led them to a spot on Scenic Drive, a country road about 12 miles west of the city centre, on Saturday night.

Speaking at the scene on Sunday afternoon, Detective Inspector Scott Beard said investigators had "located a body which we believe to be Grace" about 10 metres from the roadside.

The last confirmed sighting of Ms Millane was at 9.41pm on December 1, the day before her birthday, at the Citylife Hotel, when she was seen with a "male companion".

Since arriving in New Zealand from Peru on November 20, she had been in near-daily contact with her family.

Police received a missing person report on Wednesday and began a major search and public campaign that saw dozens of calls made to a helpline.

Ms Millane's father, David Millane, flew to Auckland and made a public appeal for help finding his daughter, who he described as "lovely, outgoing, fun-loving (and) family-orientated".

Her brother, Declan Millane, paid tribute by sharing pictures on social media of him and his sister, adding the lyrics of You Are My Sunshine.

He wrote on Instagram: "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away."</s>WELLINGTON (AFP) - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern choked back tears on Monday (Dec 10) while offering a heartfelt apology to the family of murdered British backpacker Grace Millane, as the man accused of killing the young traveller made his first court appearance.

Her voice cracking with emotion, Ms Ardern said there was a collective feeling of shame in the South Pacific nation over the fate of Ms Millane, whose body was found on Sunday in parkland just outside Auckland.

"There is this overwhelming sense of hurt and shame that this has happened in our country, a place that prides itself on our hospitality, on our manaakitanga," she said, using the Maori word for welcoming others.

"So on behalf of New Zealand, I want to apologise to Grace's family - your daughter should have been safe here and she wasn't, and I'm sorry for that."

Ms Ardern told reporters at her weekly media conference that New Zealanders were heartbroken for Ms Millane's family and were feeling her death personally.

Ms Millane disappeared on Dec 1, on the eve of her 22nd birthday, and her family's worst fears were confirmed when her body was found on Sunday.

The death has shocked New Zealand, which is usually regarded as a safe place to travel and averages less than 50 homicides a year in a population of 4.8 million.

A 26-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faced Auckland District Court on Monday and was charged with her murder.

Wearing a blue prison-issue boiler suit, he was not required to enter a plea and was remanded in custody until Jan 23.

Ms Millane was on a year-long worldwide holiday after graduating from university and had been in New Zealand for two weeks after travelling around South America for more than a month.

It was her first solo overseas trip and her family became alarmed when she failed to maintain her habit of staying in daily contact.

Police had previously said she was last seen alive entering an inner-city hotel in Auckland with a man.

Her father David flew to New Zealand after she went missing and issued an emotional appeal for information relating to his "fun-loving, outgoing and family-orientated" daughter.

Judge Evangelos Thomas opened Monday's brief court proceedings by addressing the family, Radio New Zealand reported.

"I do not know what to say to you, your grief must be desperate," he said.

"All of us hope justice is fair and swift and ultimately brings you some peace."</s>WELLINGTON, Dec 10 — New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern choked back tears Monday while offering a heartfelt apology to the family of murdered British backpacker Grace Millane, as the man accused of killing the young traveller made his first court appearance.

Her voice cracking with emotion, Ardern said there was a collective feeling of shame in the South Pacific nation over the fate of Millane, whose body was found yesterday in parkland just outside Auckland.

“There is this overwhelming sense of hurt and shame that this has happened in our country, a place that prides itself on our hospitality, on our manaakitanga,” she said, using the Maori word for welcoming others.

“So on behalf of New Zealand, I want to apologise to Grace's family — your daughter should have been safe here and she wasn't, and I'm sorry for that.”

Ardern told reporters at her weekly media conference that New Zealanders were heartbroken for Millane's family and were feeling her death personally.

Millane disappeared on December 1, on the eve of her 22nd birthday, and her family's worst fears were confirmed when her body was found yesterday.

The death has shocked New Zealand, which is usually regarded as a safe place to travel and averages less than 50 homicides a year in a population of 4.8 million.

A 26-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faced Auckland District Court on Monday charged with her murder.

Wearing a blue prison-issue boiler suit, he was not required to enter a plea and was remanded in custody until January 23.

Millane was on a year-long worldwide holiday after graduating from university and had been in New Zealand for two weeks after travelling around South America for more than a month.

It was her first solo overseas trip and her family became alarmed when she failed to maintain her habit of staying in daily contact.

Police had previously said she was last seen alive entering an inner-city hotel in Auckland with a man.

Her father David flew to New Zealand after she went missing and issued an emotional appeal for information relating to his “fun-loving, outgoing and family-orientated” daughter.

Judge Evangelos Thomas opened Monday's brief court proceedings by addressing the family, Radio New Zealand reported.

“I do not know what to say to you, your grief must be desperate,” he said.

“All of us hope justice is fair and swift and ultimately brings you some peace.” — Reuters</s>'Murdered' British backpacker Grace Millane made a chilling final Instagram post - featuring a skull painting and a quote about death.

Grace, an advertising graduate and talented artist, is believed to have been killed between December 1 and 2, court documents show.

She vanished from a hostel in Auckland, New Zealand, where a 26-year-old man today appeared in court charged with her murder.

Only weeks before her death, Grace, 22, had uploaded her last post to her Instagram art page - a watercolour artwork of a human skull.

She had captioned the image "Two can keep a secret, if one of them is dead" - a quote from the theme song of the hit TV show, Pretty Little Liars, which follows the lives of four girls after their friend vanishes.

The post was made on the Art By Millane page - where Grace would upload images of her impressive artwork - on October 23.

It has since been 'liked' and commented on by hundreds of users, with one writing: "Omg such a beautiful talented lady."

Another posted: "Your artwork is amazing! You've touched so many here in NZ young angel x RIP beautiful x."

Grace, whose other artworks include depictions of an elephant, a giraffe, a dog, an 'emotionless face' and a 'burnt gun', had been in near-daily contact with her family before her disappearance.

This morning, a man appeared at Auckland District Court, charged with murdering her between December 1 and 2, her birthday.

A body - said to be Grace's - wasn't discovered until Sunday, meaning the young woman may have 'lay dead' for up to one week.

Sitting only feet away from the backpacker's family during the court hearing, the suspect was branded a "scumbag" from the public gallery.

The man cannot be named in New Zealand for legal reasons.

Although a judge refused an interim name suppression, he decided to appeal the decision. It means he will keep his anonymity in the country for at least 21 more days.

Speaking to members of Grace's family in court today, Judge Evangelos Thomas said: "Your grief must be desperate. All of us hope justice for Grace is fair, swift and ultimately brings you some peace."

The suspect was living at the hotel where the University of Lincoln graduate was last seen alive, according to a charge sheet.

As he was taken back to the cells by prison officers after the hearing someone in the public gallery yelled: "Scumbag," MailOnline reports.

Earlier today, it emerged a post-mortem had been carried out on Grace, after the body was found in the Waitakere Ranges.

However, her cause of death will not be revealed as the results of the examination are not being released, officers in New Zealand said.

Detective Inspector Scott Beard, of the Auckland City Police, said: "The enquiry team working on the murder of English tourist Grace Millane have continued investigations throughout the day.

"The scene examination on Scenic Drive is ongoing and will continue tomorrow.

"The 0800 number has received a number of calls from people with information about the 2016 red Toyota Corolla hatchback.

"Police would like to hear from anyone who travelled along Scenic Drive on Monday 3 December, between 6am and 9.30am.

"The vehicle was rented for a 24-hour period and was returned to a central Auckland rental car company on Monday 3 December at lunchtime."

DI Beard added: "The post-mortem examination has been carried out today. We will not be releasing the results of this examination."

Detectives earlier said they had identified a "location of interest" after the investigation led them to a spot on Scenic Drive, a country road about 12 miles west of the city centre, on Saturday night.

Speaking at the scene on Sunday afternoon, Detective Inspector Scott Beard said investigators had "located a body which we believe to be Grace" about 10 metres from the roadside.

The last confirmed sighting of Grace was at 9.41pm on December 1 at the Citylife Hotel, when she was seen with a "male companion".

Since arriving in New Zealand from Peru on November 20, the young woman, from Essex, had been in regular contact with her loved ones.

Police received a missing person report on Wednesday and launched a major search and public campaign, which saw dozens of calls made to a helpline.

Grace's dad, David Millane, flew to Auckland and made a public appeal for help finding his "lovely" and "family-orientated" daughter.

Her brother, Declan Millane, paid tribute by sharing pictures on social media of him and his sister, adding the lyrics of You Are My Sunshine.

He wrote on Instagram: "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away."

A stretch of the road was closed on Sunday while forensics officers scoured the area.

Two large blue and white tents had been erected, with investigators wearing white overalls seen nearby.

Scenic Drive snakes through dense rainforest in the Waitakere Ranges, which lie to the west of Auckland.

The spot where police found the body was in the vicinity of the Waitakere Reservoir and dam, a beauty spot with hiking trails.

Earlier, New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern gave an emotional apology to the backpacker's family.

Ms Ardern said: "Your daughter should have been safe here, and she wasn't, and I'm sorry for that."

Speaking to reporters, she added: "I cannot imagine the grief of her family and what they would be experiencing and feeling right now.

"My thoughts and prayers are with her father David, who is in the country, her mother Gillian, who cannot be here, and her wider family, friends and loved ones.

"From the Kiwis I have spoken to, there is this overwhelming sense of hurt and shame that this has happened in our country, a place that prides itself on our hospitality, on our manaakitanga (a Maori term meaning kindness and generosity) especially to those who are visiting our shores."</s>GRACE MILLANE’S suspected killer Jesse Kempson called her “beautiful and radiant” hours before she died it emerged as he appeared in court charged with her murder.

Grace, 22, vanished while on a round-the-world trip as she visited New Zealand – disappearing just before her birthday from the Citylife Hotel, Auckland. Kempson was living at the same hotel where she was last seen alive. He was met with chants of "scumbag" from the public gallery as he appeared wearing a blue prison jumpsuit at Auckland District Court. The 26-year-old is charged with murdering the backpacker, from Essex, between December 1 and 2. It has also emerged the two had contact before the killing, with him saying to her “beautiful, very radiant” in a comment on Facebook. Her body was discovered over the weekend near a beauty spot on the outskirts of Auckland – and a post mortem was carried out today, cops confirmed.

“All of us hope justice for Grace is fair, swift and ultimately brings you some peace” Judge Evangelos Thomas told members of the Millane family, who were in court: "Your grief must be desperate. "All of us hope justice for Grace is fair, swift and ultimately brings you some peace." New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern gave an emotional apology to the family of Grace, saying: "Your daughter should have been safe here, and she wasn't, and I'm sorry for that." Speaking to reporters about the death, Ms Ardern said: "I cannot imagine the grief of her family and what they would be experiencing and feeling right now."

The last confirmed sighting of Ms Millane was at 9.41pm on December 1, the day before her birthday, at the Citylife Hotel, when she was seen with a "male companion". Since arriving in New Zealand from Peru on November 20, she had been in near-daily contact with her family. Police received a missing person report on Wednesday and began a major search and public campaign that saw dozens of calls made to a helpline. Ms Millane's father, David Millane, flew to Auckland and made a public appeal for help finding his daughter, who he described as "lovely, outgoing, fun-loving (and) family-orientated".

Details have begun to emerge about his personal life following his arrest, with him reportedly estranged from his family after his parents separated. New Zealand media organisation Stuff reported that his grandfather had helped raise him and was struggling to come to terms with the allegations. It has not yet been revealed how the pair met or the possible motive for the alleged murder. Kempson's paternal grandmother told the news website he had spent time living in Australia.

Detectives said they had identified a "location of interest" after the investigation led them to a spot on Scenic Drive, a country road about 12 miles west of the city centre, on Saturday night. Speaking at the scene on Sunday afternoon, Det Insp Beard said investigators had "located a body which we believe to be Grace" about 10 metres from the roadside. Two large blue and white tents had been erected and investigators wearing white overalls were seen nearby. Scenic Drive snakes through dense rainforest in the Waitakere Ranges, which lie to the west of Auckland. The spot where police found the body is in the vicinity of the Waitakere Reservoir and dam, a beauty spot with hiking trails.</s>Choking back tears, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has taken the unusual step of apologising to the family of murdered British traveller Grace Millane on behalf of the country.

Millane had been travelling around New Zealand as part of a year-long OE. Her body has been recovered and a man charged with her murder.

Speaking at her post-Cabinet press conference today, Ardern said the murder was a tragedy.
• 'Hell of a lot of work' still to do

"On behalf of New Zealand, I would like to apologise to Grace's family, your daughter should have been safe here and she wasn't and I'm sorry for that," Ardern said.

"I cannot imagine the grief of her family and what they would be experiencing and feeling right now. My thoughts and prayers are with her father David who is in the country, her mother Gillian who cannot be here, and her wider family and friends and loved ones.

"From the Kiwis I have spoken to, there is this overwhelming sense of hurt and shame that this has happened in our country, a place that prides itself on our hospitality, on our manaakitanga, especially those visiting our shores.

"On behalf of New Zealand, I want to apologise to Grace's family."

Her voice cracking, Ardern said: "Your daughter should have been safe here, and she wasn't, and I'm sorry for that."

Ardern said that it was "not necessarily" the Prime Minister's place to apologise on behalf of the country.

"It's just something I sense that New Zealanders may have wanted to convey, and I'm in a position perhaps where I'm able to convey that.

"We pride ourselves on being a place where people are welcome and where they're safe, and that hasn't happened in this case. I feel the sense that New Zealanders found it quite personal."

She acknowledged she also felt the tragedy personally.

"I don't think I'm alone in feeling that way. I think all New Zealanders will just feel their heart breaking for that family."

The alleged killer appeared in Auckland District Court today as a post mortem examination was carried out to establish when and how exactly Millane died.

Millane arrived in Auckland on November 30. The next night she was captured on CCTV footage entering the CityLife hotel in the CBD with a 26-year-old man.

He allegedly murdered Millane some time that night, or the next day - which was her 22nd birthday.

Nine days later her body was found in an area of bush in West Auckland's Waitakere Ranges.

Ardern said she had advised the Millane family through the police that the Government is prepared to do anything that would be of assistance.</s>New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern choked back tears Monday while offering a heartfelt apology to the family of murdered British backpacker Grace Millane, as the man accused of killing the young traveller made his first court appearance.

Her voice cracking with emotion, Ardern said there was a collective feeling of shame in the South Pacific nation over the fate of Millane, whose body was found Sunday in parkland just outside Auckland.

“There is this overwhelming sense of hurt and shame that this has happened in our country, a place that prides itself on our hospitality, on our manaakitanga,” she said, using the Maori word for welcoming others.

“So on behalf of New Zealand, I want to apologise to Grace’s family — your daughter should have been safe here and she wasn’t, and I’m sorry for that.”

Ardern told reporters at her weekly media conference that New Zealanders were heartbroken for Millane’s family and were feeling her death personally.

Millane disappeared on December 1, on the eve of her 22nd birthday, and her family’s worst fears were confirmed when her body was found on Sunday.

The death has shocked New Zealand, which is usually regarded as a safe place to travel and averages less than 50 homicides a year in a population of 4.8 million.

A 26-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faced Auckland District Court on Monday charged with her murder.

Wearing a blue prison-issue boiler suit, he was not required to enter a plea and was remanded in custody until January 23.

Millane was on a year-long worldwide holiday after graduating from university and had been in New Zealand for two weeks after travelling around South America for more than a month.

It was her first solo overseas trip and her family became alarmed when she failed to maintain her habit of staying in daily contact.

Police had previously said she was last seen alive entering an inner-city hotel in Auckland with a man.

Her father David flew to New Zealand after she went missing and issued an emotional appeal for information relating to his “fun-loving, outgoing and family-orientated” daughter.

Judge Evangelos Thomas opened Monday’s brief court proceedings by addressing the family, Radio New Zealand reported.

“I do not know what to say to you, your grief must be desperate,” he said.

“All of us hope justice is fair and swift and ultimately brings you some peace.”</s>Kempson, 26, was called a “scumbag” by a member of the public gallery as he left the dock at Auckland District Court on Monday, during a trial for the murder of 22-year-old backpacker Grace Millane. The accused killer sat just a few metres away from Ms Millane’s family during the 90-minute trial, and did not speak during the court proceedings. Speaking to Ms Millane's family in court, Judge Evangelos Thomas said: “I don't know what to say to you at this time, but your grief must be desperate. “We all hope justice will be fair and swift and ultimately brings you some peace.”

Kempson will appear in court again on January 23, and will remain in custody until then.

 New Zealand police discovered Ms Millane’s body on Sunday morning, following a nationwide search for the missing backpacker.

 The 22-year-old travelled in New Zealand on a solo trip after visiting Peru in November, but alarms were raised when she failed to contact her family.



Ms Millane was last seen with Kempson at CityLife hotel in Auckland on December 1 at 9.40pm local time, a day before she went missing, CCTV footage revealed.

Minutes before the pair were seen together, Kempson commented on Ms Millane’s Facebook photo, calling her “beautiful and radiant”.

 Prosecutors claim Kempson killed Ms Millane that night, or the day after on 2 December - which would have been her 22nd birthday.

 Kempson’s grandmother described him as a “very confused young man”.



The 26-year-old was raised by his grandparents as a child following his parents split, but lived with his mother in Sydney when he was a teenager.

His grandfather told Stuff.co.nz: “He was a nice kid, but he sort of fell out with everybody, which is what happens with broken up marriages.”

 Kempson, who is a father-of-one, had become estranged with his family and his father revealed he had not spoken to his son for two years because of a “a difference in opinion on life”.

 New Zealand’s Prime Minister made a heartfelt apology on behalf of the nation, addressing Ms Millane’s family.



She said: “I cannot imagine the grief of her family and what they would be experiencing and feeling right now.

“My thoughts and prayers are with her father David, who is in the country, her mother Gillian, who cannot be here, and her wider family, friends and loved ones.

 “From the Kiwis I have spoken to, there is this overwhelming sense of hurt and shame that this has happened in our country, a place that prides itself on our hospitality, on our manaakitanga (a Maori term meaning kindness and generosity) especially to those who are visiting our shores.'

 “So on behalf of New Zealand, I want to apologise to Grace's family. Your daughter should have been safe here, and she wasn't, and I'm sorry for that.”</s>A man has appeared in court in New Zealand charged with the murder of British backpacker Grace Millane.

Here is a timeline of how her round-the-world trip turned into tragedy (all times local).

– November 20: The Lincoln University graduate arrives in New Zealand, having visited Peru on the first leg of her travels.

– November 30: Posts her last tweet, quipping: “I think travelling has changed me I just brought some blue jeans.”

– December 1, around 7pm: Seen on Victoria Street in central Auckland.

– December 1, 7.15pm: Seen on CCTV at Sky City, an entertainment complex and casino on Victoria Street.

– December 1, 9.41pm: Seen at the Citylife Hotel on Queen Street, around 250m from Sky City, with a “male companion”.

– December 2, just before noon: A red Toyota Corolla hatchback is hired from a central Auckland rental firm.

– December 3, between 6.30am and 9.30am: The car is thought to have been driven in western Auckland.

– December 3, noon: The car is returned to the rental company.

– December 5: Ms Millane is reported missing to City of Auckland Police.

– December 6: Police appeal for the public’s help finding the backpacker.

– December 7: After arriving in Auckland her father, David Millane, makes an emotional plea for help finding his daughter. Police reveal they have spoken to the male companion and he is a person of interest. The man was not taken into custody and police said there was no evidence of foul play.

– December 8, 3pm: A 26-year-old man is taken into custody at a central Auckland address by police.

– December 8, 5pm: Police announce that they have obtained evidence that suggests Ms Millane has been killed and they have seized a “vehicle of interest”.

– December 8, evening: Police identify a “place of interest” on Scenic Drive, a road in the wooded Waitakere Ranges around 12 miles west of central Auckland.

December 9: Police announce they are searching an area on Scenic Drive, near the Waitakere Reservoir.

December 9, shortly after 4pm: Police find a body they believe to be Ms Millane in vegetation around 10m from the road.

December 10: The suspect appears in court in Auckland.</s>New Zealand’s prime minister Jacinda Ardern has given an emotional apology to the family of British backpacker Grace Millane, saying: “Your daughter should have been safe here, and she wasn’t, and I’m sorry for that.”

Ms Millane, 22, went missing from a hostel in Auckland on December 1 and a body was found in the Waitakere Ranges on Sunday.

A 26-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with murder and appeared in an Auckland court on Monday.

Speaking to reporters about the death, Ms Ardern said: “I cannot imagine the grief of her family and what they would be experiencing and feeling right now.

READ MORE: Devastated brother of Grace Millane pays tribute after backpacker’s body found

“My thoughts and prayers are with her father David, who is in the country, her mother Gillian, who cannot be here, and her wider family, friends and loved ones.

“From the Kiwis I have spoken to, there is this overwhelming sense of hurt and shame that this has happened in our country, a place that prides itself on our hospitality, on our manaakitanga (a Maori term meaning kindness and generosity) especially to those who are visiting our shores.”

Appearing to become choked with emotion, the PM added: “So on behalf of New Zealand, I want to apologise to Grace’s family.

“Your daughter should have been safe here, and she wasn’t, and I’m sorry for that.”

Earlier on Monday her alleged murderer, who can not be named, faced court for the first time.

Judge Evangelos Thomas told members of the Millane family, who were in court: “Your grief must be desperate.

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

Documents submitted to the court suggested police believe the University of Lincoln graduate was killed between December 1 and 2, her birthday.

A charge sheet also listed the suspect as living at the hotel where she was last seen alive.

READ MORE: Grace Millane: New Zealand police to charge man with murder of backpacker

Detectives said they had identified a “location of interest” after the investigation led them to a spot on Scenic Drive, a country road about 12 miles west of the city centre, on Saturday night.

Speaking at the scene on Sunday afternoon, Detective Inspector Scott Beard said investigators had “located a body which we believe to be Grace” about 10 metres from the roadside.

The last confirmed sighting of Ms Millane was at 9.41pm on December 1, the day before her birthday, at the Citylife Hotel, when she was seen with a “male companion”.

Since arriving in New Zealand from Peru on November 20, she had been in near-daily contact with her family.

Police received a missing person report on Wednesday and began a major search and public campaign that saw dozens of calls made to a helpline.

Ms Millane’s father, David Millane, flew to Auckland and made a public appeal for help finding his daughter, who he described as “lovely, outgoing, fun-loving (and) family-orientated”.

Her brother, Declan Millane, paid tribute by sharing pictures on social media of him and his sister, adding the lyrics of You Are My Sunshine.

He wrote on Instagram: “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away.”
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern makes a public apology to the family of Grace Millane, who was murdered in Auckland on 1 or 2 December 2018, saying that "your daughter should have been safe here".