How Grace Millane’s round-the-world trip turned into tragedy

A man has appeared in court in New Zealand charged with the murder of British backpacker Grace Millane.

Here is a timeline of how her round-the-world trip turned into tragedy (all times local).

– November 20: The Lincoln University graduate arrives in New Zealand, having visited Peru on the first leg of her travels.

– November 30: Posts her last tweet, quipping: “I think travelling has changed me I just brought some blue jeans.”

– December 1, around 7pm: Seen on Victoria Street in central Auckland.

– December 1, 7.15pm: Seen on CCTV at Sky City, an entertainment complex and casino on Victoria Street.

– December 1, 9.41pm: Seen at the Citylife Hotel on Queen Street, around 250m from Sky City, with a “male companion”.

Grace Millane missing
Grace Millane missing

– December 2: Ms Millane’s 22nd birthday.

– December 2, just before noon: A red Toyota Corolla hatchback is hired from a central Auckland rental firm.

– December 3, between 6.30am and 9.30am: The car is thought to have been driven in western Auckland.

– December 3, noon: The car is returned to the rental company.

– December 5: Ms Millane is reported missing to City of Auckland Police.

– December 6: Police appeal for the public’s help finding the backpacker.

– December 7: After arriving in Auckland her father, David Millane, makes an emotional plea for help finding his daughter. Police reveal they have spoken to the male companion and he is a person of interest. The man was not taken into custody and police said there was no evidence of foul play.

– December 8, 3pm: A 26-year-old man is taken into custody at a central Auckland address by police.

– December 8, 5pm: Police announce that they have obtained evidence that suggests Ms Millane has been killed and they have seized a “vehicle of interest”.

– December 8, evening: Detectives charge the suspect with Ms Millane’s murder.

– December 8, evening: Police identify a “place of interest” on Scenic Drive, a road in the wooded Waitakere Ranges around 12 miles west of central Auckland.

December 9: Police announce they are searching an area on Scenic Drive, near the Waitakere Reservoir.

December 9, shortly after 4pm: Police find a body they believe to be Ms Millane in vegetation around 10m from the road.

December 10: The suspect appears in court in Auckland.

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