Nearly three weeks of trial, 39 witnesses, and just over five hours of jury deliberation returned a unanimous guilty verdict in the case of murdered British backpacker Grace Millane.
The lives of a family ripped apart in a "barbaric way" by a lying killer received justice today as the jury returned a guilty verdict for the man accused of murdering Grace Millane.
The British backpacker was strangled to death on the eve of her 22nd birthday by her Tinder date in his downtown Auckland apartment on December 1 last year.
He then went about trying to cover it up and dumped her body in the Waitākere Ranges.
Millane's parents, seated in the first row of the public gallery, broke down in tears and embraced each other as they heard the word "guilty" from the jury foreperson.
David and Gillian Millane spoke to dozens of journalists from around the world after the verdict.
"This will be with us for the rest of our lives," he said. "Grace was a beautiful, talented, loving daughter. Grace was our sunshine and she will be missed forever."
His only daughter, he continued, "did not deserve to be murdered in such a barbaric way in her OE year".
Grace Millane's parents said their only daughter didn't deserve to be murdered in such a barbaric way. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Millane's parents thanked several people, including Auckland Police, specifically Detective Inspector Scott Beard, Detective Sergeant Greg Brand and Detective Toni Jordan.
"We would like to thank the Crown prosecution team: Brian [Dickey], Robin [McCoubrey], and Litia [Tuiburelevu]. They never flinched away from the more intimate details of the case and were compassionate and thoughtful where the family matters arose.
"The press contingent ... you attended court every day with my wife and I and reported truthfully, respectfully all the events as they unfolded."
The Millanes also thanked the people of New Zealand.
"They've opened their hearts to Grace and her family. I cannot express our gratitude enough for all the offers of gifts and kindness that we've received over the last year."
The Millanes will now return to England and "try pick up the pieces of ours lives" and live day-to-day without their beloved daughter.
Millane's parents left the court after the 12th day of the trial as they had entered on the first - holding hands and in tears.
Grace Millane was enjoying her OE when she was murdered by a 27-year-old man. Photo / Supplied
The jury's decision was unanimous. Some of the members of the jury broke down and sobbed as they left the courtroom for the final time.
After hearing from nearly 39 witnesses over nearly three weeks they were presented with two different narratives about what happened to Millane on that fateful night.
They used some of the six terabytes of CCTV footage collected by police to track the killer's movements, his internet search history, expert witness, and those who knew the murderer's inclination to dominate women.
He strangled Millane to death in his CityLife hotel room and then took "trophy" photos of her body, Dickey told them.
The killer "eroticised the death of British backpacker Grace Millane" because of his "morbid sexual interest".
The Crown prosecution team of Brian Dickey, left, Litia Tuiburelevu, centre, and Robin McCoubrey, right. Photo / Jason Oxenham
The defence, however, used expert evidence and those who knew Millane to say it was an accidental death during erotic asphyxiation.
The killer had "freaked out", his chief of defence Ian Brookie said, before then lying to police and trying cover it up.
The 27-year-old murderer, who had shed tears throughout the trial, appeared anxious as he walked into the dock to hear his fate this afternoon.
Justice Moore told the jury "it is never easy to judge a fellow man".
"It is evident each of you has thought very hard and very careful," he said. "This has been a particularly difficult trial."
The judge discharged them all from sitting on a jury for the next seven years.
During their deliberation the jury knocked on the courtroom door about 4.45pm to ask a question.
Grace Millane was buried by her murderer in a shallow grave in the Waitākere Ranges. Photo / Supplied
They asked: "Does 'when he applied pressure' [to Millane's neck] refer to when he started to apply pressure at the beginning or can it refer to any time when he applied pressure?"
Justice Moore answered: "It is not limited to the beginning. It can be at any time during the application of force leading to death."
It may have been a hint as to which way they were leaning because just an hour later they returned with their guilty verdict.
Beard said because of the ongoing court process police were unable to comment about the case.
After Millane's death, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern choked back tears as she apologised to the young woman's family on behalf of all New Zealanders.
"Your daughter should have been safe here, and she wasn't, and I'm sorry for that."
Ardern wasn't available to comment after today's verdict.
Police Minister Stuart Nash told the Herald he was "immensely proud" of investigation head Detective Inspector Scott Beard and his "whole team, both frontline investigators and police employees who work behind the scenes".
"This has been a difficult and distressing investigation. I add my thanks to that expressed by David and Gillian Millane, for the way police have conducted this inquiry and supported Grace's family throughout."
