Shovel linked to the murder of Grace Millane is found in New Zealand
Shovel linked to the murder of Grace Millane is found by detectives in New Zealand
- Grace Millane found murdered in New Zealand on Sunday after a week missing
- Police have charged 26-year-old Jesse Kempson with the tourist’s killing
- Officers said this week that they were hunting for a shovel linked to the murder
- Investigators found the tool in Auckland on Thursday after reviewing CCTV
Police investigating the murder of British backpacker Grace Millane in New Zealand have found a missing shovel linked to the killing.
Officers said earlier this week that they were hunting for the tool in connection with the death of 22-year-old Grace, who was from Wickford, Essex.
They announced the find on Thursday, three days after 26-year-old Jesse Kempson appeared in court charged with her murder.
Police investigating the murder of Grace Millane, 22, have found a long-handled shovel they were hunting for in connection with the killing (image released by police of an identical shovel)
Father David (far left) said that while daughter Grace (far right) was only in New Zealand for a few weeks, in some small way ‘she will forever be a Kiwi’
Detective Inspector Scott Beard told the New Zealand Herald that the shovel was found on Thursday in the central west Auckland area.
Beard said the shovel was located after ‘continued examination of CCTV footage.’
Long Island man, 57, who dug up a skeleton in his childhood…
Son, 52, appears in court over ‘murder of terminally-ill…
Share this article
Officers have not said exactly how they believe the shovel was involved in the killing.
It was initially feared that somebody may have picked up the shovel after it was dumped somewhere between where Grace’s body was found and central Auckland.
Police did not say exactly where it was eventually located. They have also not revealed exactly what they believe happened to the backpacker, saying they are still piecing together a timeline of events.
Jesse Kempson, 26, has been arrested and charged with Grace’s murder but has not yet entered a plea
The find comes a day after more than 1,000 turned out for vigils held in Grace’s memory in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland.
David Millane, who traveled to New Zealand last week after his daughter vanished, said in a statement that although Ms Millane had only been in New Zealand a few weeks, in some small way ‘she will forever be a Kiwi.’
The statement said: ‘Grace went off to travel the world in mid-October and arrived in New Zealand on the 20th November.
‘By the amount of pictures and messages we received, she clearly loved this country, its people and the lifestyle.
‘We all hope that what has happened to Grace will not deter even one person from venturing out into the world and discovering their own OE (overseas experience).’
Calling the crime ‘heinous’, the family also paid tribute to investigating officers for completing a ‘concise, stringent and thorough investigation’.
They added: ‘We would like to thank the people of New Zealand for their outpouring of love, numerous messages, tributes and compassion.
‘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.’
Vigils were held in Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington in memory of Grace on Thursday, as 1,000 people turned out to pay tributes
New Zealand has reacted with shock and upset at news of the killing, in a country which is a popular destination for young backpackers
On Tuesday, dozens of people who knew Ms Millane, led by a friend of one of her brothers, gathered in Queenstown, New Zealand.
Josh Lewis, a friend of Declan Millane, laid out a birthday cake for Ms Millane, who disappeared the night before her 22nd birthday.
Mr Lewis said he had flown out to New Zealand hoping to catch up with his close friend’s younger sister, but he never got the chance.
‘She might not have got one for her birthday,’ Mr Lewis told Stuff.nz. ‘I know she was here on her own. She probably wouldn’t have got a cake. I obviously wasn’t in Auckland at the time so this way she has one.’
Grace went missing from a hostel in Auckland on December 1, the day before her 22nd birthday, while on a round-the-world backpacking holiday.
A woman weeps during a candlelight vigil for Grace held in Auckland, where she was staying when she was killed
People gather to honour Grace in Auckland, New Zealand’s capital, on Wednesday
When relatives failed to hear from her the following day they contacted police, and the search was officially launched on December 5.
The last confirmed sighting of Grace was at the CityLife Hotel in Auckland when she was with a ‘male companion.’
On December 8 police found Grace’s body dumped on a roadside, launched a murder investigation, and arrested Kempson.
He appeared in court for the first time two days later, where he looked glum and didn’t speak a word. No plea was entered on his behalf.
As he was led from the gallery, someone shouted ‘scumbag’ at him.
Grace’s body was formally identified on Wednesday, and father David has said the family now intend to take her home this weekend ahead of a burial.
Source: Read Full Article