Man Denies Murder Of British Backpacker Grace Millane In New Zealand

A man has denied murdering British backpacker Grace Millane in New Zealand.

The 27-year-old pleaded not guilty to her murder during an appearance at the High Court in Auckland on Wednesday.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is due to face trial at the court on November 4.

Millane, 22, from Wickford, Essex, was on a round-the-world backpacking trip when she arrived in New Zealand in November.

She was reported missing on December 5 after her family grew concerned that she had not responded to messages sent on her birthday, December 2.

The last confirmed sighting of Millane was at 9.41pm the night before at the Citylife Hotel in central Auckland.

Her body was found by detectives near a road in the Waitakere Ranges, a scenic area around 12 miles west of Auckland city centre, on December 9.

An order suppressing the name of the defendant is expected to be reviewed at the end of January.