New Zealand: Jury selected for British backpacker's murder trial

A jury of seven women and five men was selected by a New Zealand court on November 4 for the trial of the murder of British backpacker Grace Millane. The selection was announced at the beginning of the trial. The jury is set to hear the evidence on Wednesday in the High Court in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city. A 27-year-old man has been accused of murdering a British backpacker in a case that shocked the South Pacific nation.

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Justice Simon Moore asks the jury to be fair

Speaking to the jury at the court, Justice Simon Moore asked them to remain uninfluenced by the intense media coverage the case has generated. He said that anything that is heard or seen outside the courtroom has no place in their deliberations and that they must consciously put those aside. Justice Simone further said that everyone is aware of the case for its extensive media coverage yet feelings of sympathy and prejudice needs to be avoided. As per reports, forty crown witnesses will give evidence in Auckland high court, including Millane’s father, David.

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Grace Milan murder case

Twenty-two-year old Grace Milan went missing during a journey in Auckland last December. As per reports, she was travelling in New Zealand as part of a year-long overseas experience and was last seen alive on CCTV footage entering a hotel in central Auckland on the night she disappeared. Her body later discovered in bushland just a few meters from a scenic drive in Auckland’s Waitakere Ranges. The accused in the case has pleaded not guilty and was granted name suppression by the high court in Auckland in December. Yet several media publications and the general public had published his name potentially jeopardising the crown’s case against him. The case also sparked intense debate about New Zealand’s record on violence against women. Thousands mourned and protested in wake of Millane’s death. Even Prime Minister Jacinda Arden apologized to Millane’s family on behalf of New Zealand.

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Grace’s father, David Millane, spoke at a candlelit vigil saying: "Grace was not born here and only managed to stay a few weeks, but you have taken her to your hearts and in some small way she will forever be a Kiwi. We all hope that what has happened to Grace will not deter even one person from venturing out into the world".

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(With inputs from agencies)