Grace Millane murder case: missing shovel found after police appeal
Police investigating the killing of 22-year-old British backpacker Grace Millane in New Zealand have found a shovel thought to be connected to her death.
Officials had invited members of the public to phone in to an 0800 number if they had seen any similar tools.
Yet the long-handled shovel was discovered, Detective Inspector Scott Beard announced on Thursday, after continuous examination of CCTV footage.
Police, who are still piecing together a timeline of events, have not revealed how the item may be connected to the killing of Ms Millane, who disappeared on December 1st.
They had initially feared that it might have been picked-up by a passerby. The tool, described as an Atlas Trade Hardwood Long Handle Round Mouth Shovel, was eventually discovered in central west Auckland area.
On Saturday Jesse Kempson, 26, was charged with Ms Millane’s murder.
The backpacker was last seen in the company of a man at CityLife Hotel in Auckland, not far from the hostel she was staying in, which was on the same road were Mr Kempson lived.
The finding of the shovel comes the day after Ms Millane’s body was formally identified.
Her family, who arrived in New Zealand this week, plan to return to Essex this weekend to bury her near their home.
In a statement released through police on Wendesday, her father David Millane said he hoped the death of his daughter “will not deter even one person from venturing out into the world”.
He also thanked police for a “concise, stringent and thorough investigation”, adding that his daughter will “forever be a kiwi”.
Hundreds of New Zealanders have turned out this week for candlelit vigils held in honour of Ms Millane.
The University of Lincoln graduate disappeared the night before her 22nd-birthday, and was on a round-the-world backpacking holiday.
As he was led from the gallery on Monday, someone shouted “scumbag” at Mr Kempson.
