Grace Millane: Murder-accused's name stays secret

The man accused of killing UK tourist Grace Millane won't be named for now.

A hearing on his name suppression took place in the High Court in Auckland on Thursday morning, but Justice Simon Moore reserved his decision.

The hearing was not open to the public and much of what was discussed was suppressed.

Ms Millane, 22, arrived in New Zealand in late November in the second leg of a year spent backpacking around the world. She went missing on December 2, and her body was found a week later in a bush area of west Auckland.

A 27-year-old man was arrested over Ms Millane's death and he appeared at the Auckland District Court on December 10. The defendant was granted interim name suppression after his lawyer Ian Brookie appealed for his name to be kept secret.

He pleaded not guilty to the murder on January 16. A trial date is set for November 4.

The murder of Ms Millane, as well as the week-long search for her, caused nationwide grief and led to a number of vigils being held around the country in her memory.

Her death also prompted many Kiwis to call for an end to violence against women, of which New Zealand has sickeningly high rates. 

Newshub.