THE killer of student Grace Millane remains unnamed even after being sentenced for life for strangled the 21-year-old woman.

Grace, whose family have strong Thurrock connections, was strangled in New Zealand in December 2018.

While some social media outlets named the 28-year-old man in the immediate aftermath of his arrest, he remains anonymous for unstated 'legal reasons.'

Before sentencing her family spoke to the court from their home in Wickford. The Millane family run a borough building company and family members, including Grace's grandfather still live in Thurrock where Grace was well known.

Her mother Gillian told the killer "she died terrified and alone in your room".

The man was sentenced at Auckland High Court to a minimum of 17 years in jail.

Mrs Millane, speaking to the court via a video-link and next to a picture of her daughter, told the man she had wanted to take her own life because of the pain he had caused her.

She said: "Grace wasn't just my daughter.

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She was my friend. My very best friend.

"I am absolutely heartbroken that you have taken my daughter's future and robbed us of so many memories that we were going to create.

"The tears I shed are never-ending at the thought of never having the chance to kiss my Grace goodbye."

Her daughter's murderer held his head in his hands as he listened to the impact his "barbaric actions" have had on his victim's family.

Sentencing the man, Justice Simon Moore - who did not lift a suppression order on his name - described the murderer's actions after the killing, including searching for pornography, as "conduct that underscores a lack of empathy and sense of self-entitlement and objectification".

He said: "You are a large and powerful man. She was diminutive. You were in a position of total physical dominance."

But he also stated the defence should not have been criticised on social media for pursuing a defence that Ms Millane had died during a consensual sex act as, even though the jury found this was not the case, this was the defendant's right.

The killer's lawyer argued he should be given a minimum term of 11 years as "rehabilitation and reintegration remains a real prospect".

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However, the judge said he could not see how the defendant could serve any less than 17 years.