The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, strangled the British woman and stuffed her body inside a suitcase. Grace was later found buried in bushland outside Auckland, New Zealand, the court was told. According to the BBC, the 27-year-old criminal alleged that Grace had died as a result of “rough sex”.

He claimed it was accidental.

But following the two-week trial, the defendant was found guilty.

Justice Simon Moore said the defendant would return to court in February, 2020 to be sentenced.

Ms Millane’s parents cried as the jury found the defendant guilty of their daughter’s murder.

Auckland high Court was told that Ms Millane and her killer met via dating app Tinder last year on December 1.

That was the night before Ms Millane’s 22nd birthday.

The court heard the pair spent several hours drinking in bars throughout Auckland before they went back to the killer’s hotel room.

According to the Mirror, prosecutors said that Ms Millane was deliberately strangled.

The killer then Googled “flesh-eating birds” and “are there vultures in New Zealand” after Ms Millane was killed, the court heard.

He also arranged another date on Tinder while Ms Millane’s dead body was in his hotel room.

Following the jury’s verdict, Ms Millane’s father David said: ”The verdict of murder today will be welcomed by every member of the Millane family and friends of Grace.

“It will not reduce the pain and suffering we have had to endure over the past year. Grace was taken in the most brutal fashion a year ago and our lives have been ripped apart.

“This will be with us for the rest of our lives. Grace was a beautiful, talented, loving daughter. Grace was our sunshine and she will be missed forever. She did not deserve to be murdered in such a barbaric way on her gap year.

“We must return home and try and pick up the pieces of our lives… without our beloved Grace.”

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