Grace Millane's murderer appealing conviction and jail sentence

The man who killed British backpacker Grace Millane is appealing his conviction and 17-year prison sentence.

A date is yet to be set for a hearing in the Court of Appeal.

The murderer's lawyer, Ian Brookie, told the Herald Rachael Reed QC will advocate for the 28-year-old man at the appeal stage.

"Sometimes trial lawyers consider that it may be helpful for another lawyer to review afresh the trial and sentence process when an appeal is being considered. That has been recommended to [my client] and has happened here, with our assistance. The appeals filed will be advanced by that lawyer for this reason."

The killer was last month sentenced to life in prison with a minimum period of 17 years for murdering Millane.

The man, who still cannot be named for legal reasons, was convicted of murder last November for strangling Millane to death in an Auckland hotel room.

Grace Millane had set out on her OE and had only been in New Zealand for 10 days when her life was cruelly snuffed out during sex with a man, 27, she had met earlier that night on Tinder. She died on the eve of her 22nd birthday in December last year.

The Crown said her killer spent five to 10 minutes strangling her and then took "trophy" photos of her body. He then created a "labyrinth of storytelling and lies" while calmly disposing of her body and other evidence.

After Millane died, her killer searched on Google for "hottest fire".

Several pornography sites were then accessed and videos viewed.

At 1.59am on the night she died a photo of a naked woman was taken using his phone.

Further internet searches included "car hire Auckland", "time in London", "large sports bags", "flesh-eating birds" and "are there vultures in New Zealand?"