A woman who went on a date with the man accused of murdering a British backpacker was held down during their sexual encounter and feared she might die, a court has heard.

The 27-year-old defendant is on trial for allegedly strangling Grace Millane and burying her body inside a suitcase after they met on Tinder on 1 December, 2018, the day before her 22nd birthday.

Another woman who met the man through Tinder told Auckland High Court she struggled to breathe after the suspect pinned her down during sex, by grabbing her arms.

The woman, whose identity cannot be reported, told the court she tried to kick out of the position and then feigned unconsciousness, before managing to catch her breath, reports said.

“This can’t be the way I die”, she said she had thought at the time, according to The Guardian.

Jurors heard the woman met the accused, who cannot be named due to a suppression order, through Tinder in March last year. They went on a second date when the alleged incident occurred in November last year.

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

It comes after the court heard on Friday that scientific testing showed blood found on the fridge in the man’s apartment was 500,000 million times more likely to belong to Ms Millane than to anyone else.

The defence says the Briton’s death was accidental and occurred during rough sexual intercourse.

Forensic experts told Auckland High Court on Friday that there was evidence Ms Millane’s blood had been cleaned up, which the defendant told police he had done.

DNA expert Turlough Thomas-Stone said “no male DNA was detected” in samples taken from Ms Millane’s fingernails and from the suitcase in which her body was found.

But he added that “damp, moisture, exposure to the elements” can make it more difficult to identify DNA samples taken from grave sites.

“Given the time between the alleged event and the taking of these samples, that could be a potential explanation [for the absence of male DNA],” he added.

On Thursday, jurors were shown security footage of the young victim and the defendant as they drank at various bars throughout the city.

Video clips showed the pair kissing repeatedly at the Bluestone Room before walking arm in arm a short distance into the lobby of the CityHigh hotel where the defendant was staying.

The court heard that data from the man’s phone showed he had used Google to search for large duffel bags, suitcases and car hire.

The defendant’s phone was also used to search for “flesh-eating birds” and “are there vultures in New Zealand?” days after he allegedly killed Ms Millane.

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Records showed the defendant had searched online for “the hottest fire”, “large bags near me” and “Waitakere Ranges” – where Ms Millane’s body was later found contorted inside a suitcase on 9 December last year – before going on another Tinder date later that day.

The trial, which is expected to last for another four weeks, continues.