Mark Longley, whose daughter was murdered by her boyfriend, says the murder conviction for Grace Millane's killer will be bittersweet for her parents.
Mark Longley drew on his own tragic experience to support Grace Millane's parents through the trial of their daughter's killer. Photo: Supplied
A 27-year-old man was yesterday convicted of the killing of the 22-year-old British backpacker.
Mr Longley - whose 17-year-old daughter Emily was killed in the UK in 2011 - has been in contact with Ms Millane's parents throughout the trial.
He said the conviction would bring only a small sense of closure for David and Gillian Millane.
"It's bittersweet and you know I think David said it in his in his speech... that it doesn't ease the pain.
"I remember feeling happy we got the right verdict, but I remember thinking, 'it doesn't actually make any difference because it doesn't bring Emily back'."
He said the trial would have been excruciating for the Millanes.
"They're still in the depths of grief dealing with Grace's death and having to sit through a trial... not even a year after she died is really hard.
"I found getting through the trial really difficult - it almost did me in - and so I just wanted to... help them."
The Millanes would now head home and face the difficult task of adapting to life without their daughter, he said.
Mr Longley hoped they would be able to stop focussing on Grace's murder and start remembering her as she lived.
