A 27-year-old man has been found guilty of the murder of British backpacker Grace Millane whose body was found buried in a suitcase in New Zealand.The young woman from Wickford, Essex, was strangled by the man she had met on dating site Tinder and with whom she spent several hours drinking in the centre of Auckland on 1 December, 2018.The pair returned to his apartment and Ms Millane was killed either that night or in the early hours of the next morning - the date of her 22nd birthday.Image:Police found Grace buried in a suitcase in the Waitakere RangesThe jury of seven women and five men returned a unanimous verdict after just five hours deliberation at Auckland High Court.Prosecutors successfully argued the murderer, whose name is subject to a suppression order, shoved Ms Millane's body inside a suitcase before burying her in the Waitakere Ranges outside the city.She was assumed missing and her father, David Millane, flew to New Zealand as local authorities spent a week searching until her body was found by police.Image:The pair spent several hours drinking in the centre of Auckland before Grace was murderedGrace's mother Gill broke into silent sobs as the verdict was read out.The killer remained impassive before he was led away to the cells.He was then brought back to the dock, wearing a dark suit and black open necked shirt, to be told by Judge Simon Moore that he would be sentenced on February 21 next year.Mr Millane told reporters: "The verdict of murder today will be welcomed by every member of the Millane family and friends of Grace."It will not reduce the pain and the suffering we have had to endure over the past year."Grace was taken away from us in the most brutal fashion a year ago and our lives have been ripped apart.Image:Parents David and Gillian Millane attended the trial"This will be with us for the rest of our lives.
Grace was a beautiful, talented, loving daughter."Grace was our sunshine and she will be missed forever.
She did not deserve to be murdered in such a barbaric way."It brings to an end an 11-month ordeal for the family who waved goodbye to their daughter in October last year as she set out on a world tour after graduating from Lincoln University.More follows