A man who strangled a British backpacker and hid her body inside a suitcase has been found guilty of murder.
Grace Millane was found buried in bushland outside Auckland, New Zealand.
The British backpacker’s father, David Millane, gave a statement outside the Auckland High Court after the jury delivered its guilty of murder verdict on Friday evening.
It was the first time Grace’s family had spoken publicly since arriving in Auckland for the trial.
“The verdict will be welcomed by every member of the Millane family and friends of Grace,” he said.
“It will not reduce the pain and 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 and family have been ripped apart.
“She did not deserve to be murdered in such a barbaric way on her OE year.”
He described his daughter as “our sunshine”, and said her murder would be with the family for the rest of their lives.
David thanked New Zealand Police, Detective Inspector Scott Beard, the Crown prosecution team and the media.
