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David Millane, the father of slain British backpacker Grace, has died, police confirmed.
David millane
Photo: RNZ / Claire Eastham-Farrelly
Millane had been diagnosed with cancer, the RNZ understands. He died in his hometown in England this week.
David Millane traveled to New Zealand after his daughter disappeared in December 2018, on the eve of her 22nd birthday, while in her OE.
He made an emotional public plea for help finding her, saying she was a “lovely, outgoing, fun-loving, family-oriented daughter.”
His body was eventually found in a suitcase, buried in a shallow grave in Waitākere Ranges.
Millane attended one of the vigils organized in the wake of her daughter’s death in central Auckland.
David and his wife Gillian were in Auckland High Court last year for the three-week trial of the 28-year-old man who was found guilty of the murder of their daughter.
After the verdict, David broke down while speaking to the media and said that while it would bring some relief to the family, “it will not reduce the pain and suffering that we have had to endure over the past year.
“Grace was taken from us in the most brutal way a year ago and our lives and our families have been shattered. This will be with us for the rest of our lives.”
“Grace was a beautiful, talented and loving daughter, Grace was our ray of sunshine and we will miss her forever.”
She failed to deliver a victim impact statement to the court when her daughter’s killer was sentenced in February.
However, Gillian Millane did. In her victim impact statement to the court, she spoke about how her daughter had been a great support to her during her own battle with breast cancer.
In a statement, Detective Inspector Scott Beard, who led the murder investigation and attended Grace’s funeral, said that the life of the Millane family changed when Grace was killed.
“The New Zealand police worked closely with the Millane family as part of the Grace murder investigation and provided support to the victims during the subsequent trial,” he said.
“Our thoughts and condolences go out to Gillian, Michael, Declan and the rest of their whānau.”
The family has asked for privacy.
The 28-year-old man who murdered Grace Millane cannot be identified.
He appealed his conviction and sentence to the Court of Appeal and a decision has yet to be issued.
