Image copyrightLucie Blackman TrustImage caption Miss Millane had been travelling alone in New Zealand A 26-year-old man has denied murdering British backpacker Grace Millane in New Zealand.Miss Millane, 22, from Wickford, Essex, was last seen at a hostel in Auckland on 1 December.
Her body was found a week later on the outskirts of the city.The defendant, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, appeared in the High Court in Auckland.He entered a not guilty plea, and a trial date was set for 4 November.Miss Millane had been travelling alone in New Zealand for two weeks, following a six-week group trip through South America.Her family became concerned when the University of Lincoln graduate failed to respond to birthday messages on 2 December.Miss Millane's father flew to New Zealand and was there when police discovered the body of his daughter on 8 December.