Grace Millane’s Killer Has Launched An Appeal Against His Conviction And Jail Sentence

The man who murdered Grace Millane has begun the process of appealing his conviction and jail sentence, his barrister has announced. He was jailed for murder last month with a 17-year sentence.

Rachel Reed QC, an Auckland-based lawyer acting for the man, confirmed this morning that the appeal had been filed in the New Zealand Court of Appeal. In November, the man – who cannot be named for legal reasons – was found to have strangled Millane, hid her body in a suitcase and buried it in the New Zealand bushland.

His defence, led by lawyers Ian Brookie and Ron Mansfield, tried to argue Millane had been killed accidentally after the pair engaged in rough sex that got out of hand. It’s a defence tactic used by 59 men in the last year in the UK and led to Grazia’s petition to end the so-called ‘rough sex defence’,which last month was called for review by the government.

The defence team had tried to achieve a 12-year sentence for their then-client, with murder typically having a life sentence in New Zealand. Prosecutors instead argued he should serve at least 17 years before parole would be offered and won their case. The defence team then indicated they would appeal the decision.

‘Sometimes trial lawyers consider that it may be helpful for another lawyer to review afresh the trial and sentence process when an appeal is being considered,’ Brookie said in a statement on Wednesday.

‘That has been recommended to my client and has happened here, with our assistance. The appeals filed will be advanced by that lawyer for this reason.’

Justice Simon Moore told the defendant at the time of his sentencing that his actions displayed ‘conduct that underscores a lack of empathy and sense of self-entitlement and objectification'.

‘Manual strangulation is a particularly intimate form of violence … cold-blooded,’ he said. ‘Your actions reveal a complete disregard for your victim.’

His new lawyer indicated there will be no further comment made on the success of the appeal but that it has been filed today.

To sign Grazia's petition to end the 'rough sex' defence, click here.

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