The Murder of Grace Millane

Could It Have Been Prevented?

Grace Emmie Rose Millane was a British backpacker from Wickford, Essex, who was tragically murdered while travelling in New Zealand. Her death garnered international attention and sparked widespread conversations about violence against women.

But could her murder have been avoided?

A woman later came forward to say that Jesse Kempson, the man who was jailed for Grace’s murder, had previously threatened to kill her. Eighteen months after that warning, Grace was dead.

A Young Life Cut Short

Grace was a university graduate who had embarked on a solo journey around the world. As part of her travels, she arrived in New Zealand, eager to explore and experience new cultures.

Footage shows them eating and drinking in several locations, the pair appear relaxed and happy to be in each other's company.

At 2040, the pair are seen kissing, and over the next hour they are seen being intimate several times. There is a moment when they are separated, and it was this moment that led the police to Kempson. During this time, he put a message on Grace’s Facebook profile.

There was a brief moment when the pair were separated. It was during this time that Kempson posted a message on Grace’s Facebook profile — a digital breadcrumb that would later help police identify him.

At 9:30 p.m., Grace entered the CityLife Hotel with Kempson. She was never seen alive again. It is impossible to imagine how terrified she must have been in her final moments. Bruises were later found on her arms and chest where she had been pinned down. She was then strangled to death.

Kempson claimed that Grace’s death was the result of consensual rough sex. However, a pathologist testified that she had died from sustained pressure to the neck for four to five minutes and presented bruises consistent with restraint.

A Pattern of Violence

In the weeks and months leading up to Grace’s murder, Kempson was active on Tinder, where he initiated conversations with multiple women. He often described his sexual preferences in disturbing detail, scaring many off.

He once boasted to a Tinder date that he was related to an All Blacks rugby star. During an encounter with her, she had to fight for her life to escape.

Another woman came forward with allegations that Kempson had raped her in a hotel room. She met him on Tinder in 2016 and described herself as “young, naive and a hopeless romantic.” She said he was “very charismatic, confident” and “held himself in really high regard.” But his behaviour quickly turned violent. At one point, he threatened to kill her with a knife.

She reported the incident to the police and gave a detailed statement. Despite officers acknowledging it was a “very violent situation,” they told her it would be too difficult to prosecute because it was “he said, she said.”

No charges were brought in 2017, although the woman was granted both a protection order and a property order. New Zealand Police later confirmed they had received a report of physical violence but did not proceed due to a lack of evidence.

The Cover-Up

At around 1:30 a.m. on the Sunday following Grace’s death, Kempson began a series of chilling internet searches. Rather than showing remorse, he appeared focused on covering up his crime. His search history revealed that he was looking up the location where he would eventually bury Grace in a shallow grave.

Shockingly, during this time, he also visited PornHub and took intimate photos of Grace’s body.

The following morning, with her body still in his hotel room, Kempson texted another woman from Tinder and arranged a date.

Before the date, he bought a suitcase, cleaning products, and rented a car. The red Toyota hatchback was then used to pick up his next Tinder date at a bar in Ponsonby, an Auckland suburb.

The woman later said she found Kempson “very intense, quite calm though.” On the date, they discussed a murder trial she had previously attended as a reporter. Kempson remarked, “It’s crazy how guys can make one wrong move and go to jail for the rest of their lives.”

Feeling unsettled, the woman left the bar and walked home using a different route, afraid he might follow her.

Later that evening, Kempson returned to the hotel. At approximately 5:45 p.m., he hired a Rug Doctor, claiming he needed to clean a red wine stain. He then parked his rental car outside the hotel, collected two suitcases using a hotel trolley, and loaded them into the vehicle.

The next morning at 6:15 a.m., Kempson left the hotel in the car. On the way out of town, he purchased a shovel.

The Murder Enquiry

Grace was reported missing by her parents a few days later, and a major police investigation began. Having found the suspicious Facebook message, officers interviewed Kempson.

In his first interview, Kempson claimed that he and Grace had partied until 10 p.m. and then parted ways. CCTV footage from the hotel quickly disproved this.

By the second interview, faced with overwhelming evidence, Kempson changed his story. He admitted she had died in his room but claimed it was an accident during consensual sex after she asked to be choked.

The jury did not believe him.

Kempson was described during the trial as a sociopath who had a long history of manipulative and predatory behaviour. In a separate case, he was convicted of terrorising a live-in girlfriend for months. In total, he received a 17-year sentence for Grace’s murder and an additional 11 years for separate offences against two other women.

A Legacy of Advocacy

Grace’s murder had a profound impact on New Zealand and across the world. Her devastated family channelled their grief into action.

Her mother became a passionate campaigner against the use of the “rough sex” defence in criminal cases. She partnered with the charity We Can’t Consent To This, advocating for legal reform in England and Wales.

In honour of Grace, her mother Gillian and niece created the Love Grace campaign, which collects handbags filled with essential items for women fleeing domestic abuse. To date, they have distributed more than 15,600 bags worldwide.

In recognition of their extraordinary efforts, two members of the Millane family were appointed Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2024 New Year Honours.

---