A British backpacker was strangled during rough sex with her Tinder date who then put her body in a suitcase before meeting another woman, a court has heard.

Grace Millane, 22, was on a round-the-world trip when she arrived in New Zealand from Peru last November and went on a date with the man now accused of her murder.

The Crown alleged the 27-year-old defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, strangled Ms Millane, from Wickford, Essex, during sexual intercourse at his apartment in Auckland.

However the defence claims the death, on either 1 December or 2 December, 2018 – the date of Ms Millane’s 22nd birthday – was accidental.

Her body was found twisted inside a suitcase in the foetal position in a forest area near Auckland a week after she disappeared.

Grace Millane trial: British backpacker 'murdered by Tinder date' Show all 11 1 /11 Grace Millane trial: British backpacker 'murdered by Tinder date' Grace Millane trial: British backpacker 'murdered by Tinder date' David and Gillian Millane (second from right and right) arrive at Auckland High Court, in New Zealand, on Wednesday, 6 November, 2019, for the start of their daughter Grace Millane's murder trial. The body of the 21-year-old British backpacker was found in a forest area near Auckland on 9 December, 2018 - a week after she was last seen. Michael Craig/NZ Herald via AP Grace Millane trial: British backpacker 'murdered by Tinder date' The parents of Grace Millane, David and Gillian Millane, arrive at Auckland High Court with Detective Inspector Scott Beard, 6 November, 2019. Phil Walter/Getty Images Grace Millane trial: British backpacker 'murdered by Tinder date' Candles and flowers are laid next to a photo of Grace Millane during a vigil at Civic Square Park in Wellington on 12 December, 2018. Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Grace Millane trial: British backpacker 'murdered by Tinder date' Defence lawyers Ian Brookie (left) and Ron Mansfield (right) arrive at Auckland High Court, 6 November, 2019. Fiona Goodall/Getty Images Grace Millane trial: British backpacker 'murdered by Tinder date' Crown prosecutor Brian Dickey arrives at Auckland High Court, 6 November, 2019. Phil Walter/Getty Images Grace Millane trial: British backpacker 'murdered by Tinder date' Auckland High Court Fiona Goodall/Getty Grace Millane trial: British backpacker 'murdered by Tinder date' People place candles and flowers next to a photo of Grace Millane during a vigil at Civic Square Park in Wellington on 12 December, 2018. Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Grace Millane trial: British backpacker 'murdered by Tinder date' David Millane speaks at a press conference in Auckland, New Zealand, on 7 December, 2018, while his daughter Grace Millane is still missing. Doug Sherring/NZ Herald via AP Grace Millane trial: British backpacker 'murdered by Tinder date' Undated photo issued by the Lucie Blackman Trust of 22-year-old British backpacker, Grace Millane, who is missing in New Zealand. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Friday December 7, 2018. Ms Millane, from Essex, was on a year-long round-the-world trip, but was last seen in Auckland at 9.41pm at the Citylife Hotel on December 1. See PA story MISSING Auckland. Photo credit should read: Lucie Blackman Trust /PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. Lucie Blackman Trust Lucie Blackman Trust/PA Grace Millane trial: British backpacker 'murdered by Tinder date' CCTV still image issued by Auckland City Police of one of the last sightings of Grace Millane. Auckland City Police/PA Grace Millane trial: British backpacker 'murdered by Tinder date' BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE Undated handout photo issued by Auckland City Police of Briton Grace Millane, 22, who is missing in New Zealand. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Thursday December 6, 2018. Ms Millane, who is reportedly from Essex, was last seen in Auckland on Saturday night and police said they are growing increasingly concerned for her welfare. See PA story MISSING Auckland. Photo credit should read: Auckland City Police/PA Wire. NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. Auckland City Police/PA

Opening the case at Auckland’s High Court on Wednesday, Crown prosecutor Robin McCoubrey said Ms Millane and the defendant met on the Tinder dating app and went to a number of bars in Auckland city centre.

He said: “They were plainly comfortable in one another’s company that evening,” referring to security footage that showed them together.

“From the footage, you’ll see them kissing. Both parties probably anticipated sexual activity,” he added.

Mr McCoubrey said the defendant lied to police about what occurred when he was first interviewed, telling them he had simply met Ms Millane “for a drink and then parted company”.

But he later told them they had engaged in rough sexual intercourse involving biting and hitting, Mr McCoubrey said.

Afterwards, the defendant allegedly told police he fell asleep in the shower, then woke up and went back to bed.

“’I woke up the next day and saw that she was lying on the floor. I saw that she had blood coming from her nose’,” Mr McCoubrey quoted the defendant as saying.

Mr McCoubrey said Ms Millane was found to have “other bruises that were consistent with restraint” on her “upper chest area and upper inner arms”.

“It is the Crown’s case that Ms Millane was strangled by [the defendant],” he added.

The prosecutor said that in the hours after Ms Millane died, the defendant engaged in a number of internet searches, including for the Waitakere Ranges, where her body was found, and for “the hottest fire”.

He also allegedly looked at pornography online multiple times and broke off his internet search to take seven intimate photos of Ms Millane’s body.

The defendant then resumed searching pornographic websites, before searching for “large bags near me” and “rigor mortis”.

“He wasn’t distressed or concerned by her death,” Mr McCoubrey claimed.

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Security footage showed the accused bought a suitcase and later used a trolley to take it from his apartment to a hire car.

The prosecutor added that the defendant “doesn’t seem concerned by the dead body in his apartment” as he travelled to nearby Ponsonby Road and went “on another date” later on 2 December.

Defence barrister Ian Brookie said Ms Millane “died as a result of what they consensually engaged in together”.

The defendant wiped tears from his face as Mr Brookie added: “While his actions may have caused her death, he is not to blame. This death was an accident.”

Ms Millane’s parents David and Gillian were present in court for the start of the trial, which continues and is due to last five weeks.