Jacinda Ardern fights back tears in emotional speech over backpacker’s death

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was forced to fight back tears during an emotional speech as she apologised on behalf of her country to the family of a British backpacker, who tragically died while travelling there.

Grace Millane, 22, disappeared in Auckland on December 1, before police found a body on Sunday in the outskirts of the city. While the body has not yet formally been identified, police reportedly believe it to be Ms Millane’s. A 26-year-old man has since been charged with her murder.

Now, Ardern has admitted the country feels ‘collective shame’ over her death in a heartfelt speech during a press conference.

“From the Kiwis I have spoken to there is this overwhelming sense of hurt and shame that this has happened in our country, a place that prides itself on our hospitality… especially to those who are visiting our shores,” she said.

New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern issues a tearful apology for the killing of British backpacker Grace Millane

Read the latest on the case here: https://t.co/CGUPYmDN03 pic.twitter.com/VWTnXyWjFm

— Sky News (@SkyNews) December 10, 2018

“On behalf of New Zealand, I want to apologise to Grace’s family. Your daughter should have been safe here and she wasn’t and I’m sorry for that.”

She went on to say the government has offered its full support to the family and added: “I cannot imagine the grief of her family and what they will be experiencing.”

It comes amid a stream of tributes right across New Zealand, with candlelight vigils held and the iconic Sky Tower lighting up white as a mark of respect to Ms Millane.

According to the BBC, a judge acknowledged the family’s grief “must be desperate” while speaking in court this week.

Ms Millane, from Essex, was on a year-long world tour after graduating from university and is believed to have been in New Zealand on her own for two weeks before her death.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, she had been in touch with family and friends almost daily until her disappearance.

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