GUILTY NEW ZEALAND - Grace Millane, 22, British backpacker, Auckland, 1 Dec 2018 #3

[tmar]

"Following the guilty verdict, the accused showed no emotion and was immediately escorted from the courtroom by two police officers. He will be sentenced in February.

In the public gallery, the Millanes clutched each other’s hands and gulped for air as they cried. As their tears flowed, so too did the tears of the detectives either side of them, and then members of the jury, holding handfuls of tissues as they filed out."

'She should have been safe here': how Grace Millane's murder shocked New Zealand

This is just so sad to hear, the second paragraph.
There seems such a bond now, with the Prosecution and the Millane's in this tragedy.

 

[Fidobell]

Just caught up on this thread after an overnight away , so relieved to see verdict so quickly too . The defence was weak but you never know how a jury will process the evidence .
I hope memories of lovely Grace help her family build a life around the hole she'll leave in their lives .

 

[kiwijayne]

Oh dear the British press are in trouble

British press breaches NZ suppression order by naming Grace Millane murderer

 

[ZsaZsa]

Welcome, trvshyworld, with your first post, and great info.
Guess, we will not have this Creep's id, for sometime.

His name is in the Daily Mail UK today.

 

[Kikixxxx]

Oh dear the British press are in trouble

British press breaches NZ suppression order by naming Grace Millane murderer

They’re ruthless. Only went along with it so they’d get access to the court room during the trial, now it’s over they won’t care. Tbh I’m surprised the judge allowed them in the trial at all seen as though they breached the suppression order back in December. It was pointless to start referring to him as the accused over here when they’d already told everyone who he was at that point anyway

 

[Kikixxxx]

The law doesn't extend to international media, including agencies in Britain, meaning they are free to name the man despite the strict and unusual reporting restrictions in New Zealand.

Even the reasons for the suppression order have been withheld. A judge will decide whether the order should be lifted when he is jailed in February 2020.

If it isn't, it could remain in effect in New Zealand well into 2021.


Grace Millane's killer can't be named for two years due to suppression order

Only a few seem to have named him though, I’m surprised a trashy paper like the mirror ^^ is sticking to the rules though! That’s a first

 

[Sillybilly]

Anyone have a nz herald sub that can access the text behind this paywall? Grace Millane's murderer an 'absolutely fluid and practised liar' - CityLife landlord

Following websleuths rules to not post the whole article of course, just if there’s anything new and pertinent.

Just to clarify ...

Members can quote what is contained in the Google hit summary, but cannot quote anything from the paywalled article itself. They can paraphrase from the article and link it for anyone else who may have a subscription.

 

[katydidtoonz]

Anyone have a nz herald sub that can access the text behind this paywall? Grace Millane's murderer an 'absolutely fluid and practised liar' - CityLife landlord

Following websleuths rules to not post the whole article of course, just if there’s anything new and pertinent.

essentially it's an interview with his landlord:

- the room he was staying in did not belong to the hotel. The building had a mix of hotel rooms/serviced apartments and privately owned apartments - the latter of which he was renting

- Landlord (LL) owns several apartments in the building and around town, so was experienced. Spoke to the murderer for an hour before leasing - murderer said he was a regional manager with a supermarket chain earning 150k a year, that he wanted the pokey little apartment so he could save his money for socialising and entertainment. Story seemed legit to landlord

- move in costs are paid by WINZ (benefits department here). Murderer tells LL that this was simply help while he waited for his first monthly pay. LL shrugs off

- murderer almost immediately behind on rent. LL also starts seeing him sifting around the hotel during hours that an actual regional manager would be, you know, working. Grows suspicious but there's always an excuse. LL also mentions that murderer would spend hours at the building's gym - seemed "into self-improvement" and obsessed with picking up women.

- LL was about to confront him over missing rent when this case started

 

[Coach]

Apologies if this question has been asked before but why has his name been withheld?

 

[Slixcon]

Just been catching up with this case. How devastating for the family, first to lose their daughter and then to have to sit through a court case which detailed the circumstances of her death and every intimate detail of her sexual life.

As for the accused, I'm relieved he was charged with murder rather than manslaughter. The fact that he spontaneously concocted a story about meeting Chinese tourists and having a good old sing-a-long with strangers at a bar would be laughable were it not for the gravity of the situation. He's the textbook definition of a pathological liar, and probably a sociopath and sexual sadist to boot.

 

[kiwijayne]

Apologies if this question has been asked before but why has his name been withheld?

it’s standard in NZ as we’re such a small country to enable the accused to get a fair trial. So they can’t use it as grounds to overturn the conviction

 

[MsBetsy]

Apologies if this question has been asked before but why has his name been withheld?

It's not clear at this point. Apparently the name of the accused is normally revealed once there is a conviction.
But in this case the judge is not allowing the media to state his name.

Some have speculated that he is connected to other cases that may come to trial in the future. I think there was some mention of a company he once worked for having something to do with it.

Or maybe there are other unsolved cases they are investigating that he may have been involved in.

Criminals like this often commit lesser crimes before escalating to murder.

Imo

 

[MsBetsy]

it’s standard in NZ as we’re such a small country to enable the accused to get a fair trial. So they can’t use it as grounds to overturn the conviction

How common is it that the name is still not revealed once the accused has been convicted of a crime?
Do they wait until after sentencing?

 

[kiwijayne]

How common is it that the name is still not revealed once the accused has been convicted of a crime?
Do they wait until after sentencing?

I think because it’s so high profile. The same will more than likely happen with the mosque shooter.

 

[scapa]

How common is it that the name is still not revealed once the accused has been convicted of a crime?
Do they wait until after sentencing?

IIRC in this case the name-suppression runs until 2022. Whether that's par for the course in NZ I would doubt, but don't know for sure.

 

[Sillybilly]

PLEASE NOTE:

Although Websleuths is based in the US, they generally try to abide by laws of other countries as it relates to publication bans / suppression orders.

Although it hasn't been posted here, please do not bring the convicted individual's name to Websleuths or discuss/speculate on the NZ court's reasons for the suppression order. You may link to MSM (i.e. Daily Mail) that contains the information, but not bring any of that particular information to Websleuths for discussion.

We know it sucks but ... Thank You for complying.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

IIRC in this case the name-suppression runs until 2022. Whether that's par for the course in NZ I would doubt, but don't know for sure.

This 2022 (thought it was 2021) thing is odd, what could be happening between now and then that changes the situation regarding his name? It's not his age ie he's not a minor, and it's not a turning of age for any kids he might have. So the "another court case" theory seems likely, but is it such a big case that it will take that long to conclude? Seems unlikely. I'm hella puzzled about it!

 

[Elainera]

This 2022 (thought it was 2021) thing is odd, what could be happening between now and then that changes the situation regarding his name? It's not his age ie he's not a minor, and it's not a turning of age for any kids he might have. So the "another court case" theory seems likely, but is it such a big case that it will take that long to conclude? Seems unlikely. I'm hella puzzled about it!

I can only speculate but maybe investigations are still ongoing (maybe because the murder investigation was made priority?) and/or a trial date has not been set yet, and maybe they simply want to give ample time even though the possible other case could theoretically happen much sooner. Moo.

The Kiwis here should keep an eye on upcoming court cases!

 

[Elainera]

The BBC is not naming him and says

"Justice Simon Moore ordered that the suppression order which prevents naming the defendant would remain in place indefinitely until lifted by the court."

bbm

Man guilty of British backpacker's murder

 

[kiwilaura]

I can only speculate but maybe investigations are still ongoing (maybe because the murder investigation was made priority?) and/or a trial date has not been set yet, and maybe they simply want to give ample time even though the possible other case could theoretically happen much sooner. Moo.

The Kiwis here should keep an eye on upcoming court cases!

It’s possible that the victim of upcoming case is a minor and his identity being suppressed is to protect this person. I don’t know I’m just theorising.

But I will say it again - that his name remains suppressed is extraordinarily unusual. I can’t think of any other case where that’s happened. So it must be for a very very good reason, even some journalists have said as much and they will be desperate to name him. I think we need to trust the courts on this one.

I don’t think it will have anything to do with the high profile factor. There’s been some high profile cases without these restrictions. The mosque shooting accused name is not suppressed by the way, just our Prime Minister has suggested not personifying him by using his name on the media. A lot of media have liked her approach, but they’re free to name him if they please. There were orders around publication of his photo but these have been lifted.

@Elainera I’m sorry I quoted your post but my response is directed at a few previous posts!