22 Dec 2020

"Today brings some closure" - Detective Inspector Scott Beard

From Checkpoint, 5:15 pm on 22 December 2020

The detective in charge of the investigation into Grace Millane's death says her killer's true nature became quickly apparent after his arrest.

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Photo: RNZ

Name suppression lapsed today for Jesse Kempson, after a protracted two-year legal battle.

He strangled the British backpacker in his Auckland apartment, contorted her body into a suitcase and buried her in a shallow grave in the Waitākere Ranges.

It can also be revealed he committed violent sexual offences against two other women before meeting Millane.

Detective Inspector Scott Beard told Checkpoint once the murder charge was laid, prior offending came to light.

"During the investigation into - first of all - Grace's disappearance and then once we had charged the murderer, our investigation identified a number of women who he had been associated with. 

"It was when we were interviewing them that his true modus operandi and approach came out. 

"I think the courts and the media have labelled him as callous, narcissistic, self-serving, he doesn't believe he's done anything wrong. He doesn't believe he's offended and that's a worry.

"We know that during the investigation and subsequently that he lied. He is a liar. So anything he says you've got to take with a grain of salt and check it."

He said sticking to the name suppression granted at the time was important because of the two other trials that were ongoing. 

"It was important for them that they could give evidence in a fair trial hearing where there wasn't prejudice because of the name previously being out there. While I understand the frustration from most New Zealanders around the name suppression, it was in place for justified and good reasons."

Beard said if there were other victims out there, he encouraged them to come forward to police and they would give them counselling and advice. 

He said it had been a tough couple of years for the Millane family, with Grace's death, her mother Gillian battling breast cancer, and the death of her father David last month.

"So the decision last week from the Court of Appeal, in terms of dismissing the appeal against conviction and sentence, was something positive for them for what has been a pretty negative last couple of years.

Her parents knew deep inside his name would be made public at some stage, he said. 

"The reality is it's more around the prosecution process, that's why last week's Court of Appeal decision was really important, they don't want in fact to have Grace's name associated with the murderer's name. 

"Their focus has been on getting through, not only Grace's murder, but also David's death."

Grace's parents were aware of the other charges against the murderer and met the victims, Beard said. 

"Gillian and David met these two victims. Gillian stayed in support of them and in fact, probably gave them a lot of strength and courage in terms of getting them to the witness box and giving evidence. 

"They feel they take a bit of the blame, but there's no blame here, because the person accountable for their actions is Grace's murderer and he's been held to account."