Grace Millane's mother has confronted her daughter's killer in court, telling him she "died terrified and alone" in his hotel room.
Gillian Millane addressed the court via video link, telling the 28-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, that he had taken away her "very best friend".
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The man has been jailed for life and sentenced to a minimum of 17 years for strangling British backpacker Grace on a Tinder date in December 2018, one day before her 22nd birthday.
"Her tragic life was cut short by your wilful, cruel actions. You took it upon yourself to murder my beautiful Grace, an innocent young lady," said Gillian.
"On a daily basis I torment myself over what you did to my Grace. The terror and pain she must have experienced at your hands.
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"As a mother, I would've done anything to change places with her. I sit full of guilt knowing I couldn't help her, that I should have been there. She died terrified and alone in a room with you.
"[...] Grace wasn't just my daughter. She was my friend. My very best friend.
"I am absolutely heartbroken that you have taken my daughter's future and robbed us of so many memories that we were going to create.
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"The tears I shed are never-ending at the thought of never having the chance to kiss my Grace goodbye.
"[...] You have ripped a hole in my heart. One that will never be repaired. You walked into our lives and destroyed Grace, in pursuit of your own sexual gratification. Now my family will never be the same."
Grace, from Wickford in Essex, met the man while travelling in Auckland.
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Following their date, the pair returned to his hotel room where he killed her. He later buried Grace's body in a suitcase, in a forested area outside of the city.
During the trial, the court heard how, on the night of her murder, the killer "wasn't distressed or concerned" by her passing, but instead set about planning how to dispose of her body.
They were also told how he "sexualised" her killing, taking photographs and searching for pornography.
Justice Simon Moore added: "You are a large and powerful man. She was diminutive. You were in a position of total physical dominance."
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