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Grace Millane disappeared on the eve of her 22nd birthday after meeting her killer on the dating app Tinder. Photo / Supplied
The man who murdered Grace Millane has cost New Zealand taxpayers more than $ 400,000 in legal aid fees alone.
The Justice Department told the Herald that the killer’s legal assistance for the murder case cost $ 406,173.95.
On December 8, 2018, the police announced that the man would be charged with murder.
In November of last year, jurors found him guilty.
In February, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 17 years.
In August, he took his case to the Court of Appeal in an attempt to overturn his conviction and sentence for murder.
Today, the killer lost that conviction and sentence appeal.
But the Supreme Court issued a last minute order suppressing the man’s identity.
The Millane family thanked the people of New Zealand “for the love and support” shown to Grace and the family over the past two years.
“Grace was a kind, fun-loving daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, aunt, cousin and friend, with her whole life ahead of her,” family members said via police.
“She was enjoying the first of what would have been a life of adventure before her killer so cruelly and brutally cut off her life.”
Millane was 22 years old.
The family added: “Grace, you are and will always be our sunshine.”