Grace Millane murder: 27-year-old man denies killing British backpacker in New Zealand

Suspect due to face trial in November

Ms Millane was last seen on 1 December (PA)

A 27-year-old man has denied murdering British backpacker Grace Millane in New Zealand.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded not guilty to her murder during an appearance at the High Court in Auckland on Wednesday.

He is due to face trial at the court on 4 November.

Millane, 22, from Wickford, Essex, arrived in New Zealand in November as part of a round-the-world backpacking trip.

She was reported missing on 5 December after her family grew concerned she had not responded to messages sent on her birthday, 2 December.

The last confirmed sighting of Ms Millane was at 9.41pm the night before at the Citylife Hotel in central Auckland.

Her body was found by detectives near a road in the Waitakere Ranges, a scenic area around 12 miles west of Auckland city centre, on 9 December.

An order suppressing the name of the defendant is expected to be reviewed at the end of January.