The man who killed British backpacker Grace Millane in New Zealand has begun an appeal against his murder conviction and sentence.

Image source, Lucie Blackman Trust

The 28-year-old, who cannot be named, was jailed for at least 17 years after a jury found him guilty of murdering Ms Millane in an Auckland hotel in 2018.

After her death he hid her body in a suitcase and buried her in bushland.

His appeal is based around elements of the trial process as well as the length of the minimum non-parole period.

At his trial last year, the killer claimed University of Lincoln graduate Ms Millane, who was last seen on the night before her 22nd birthday, had died accidentally, after the pair engaged in rough sex that went too far.

But a jury in November rejected that argument and found him guilty of murder.

New Zealand media outlet Stuff said the appeal was based around how much emphasis was placed on the element of consent, expert evidence, probability, and the negative evidence given by other women about his character.

Almost £4,000 has been donated to help a football club after its clubhouse was badly vandalised and goalposts damaged.

Image source, Sutton FC damage

Vandals struck at Sutton Rovers' home ground in Furlong Road last month, with the damage to the goalposts leaving the side unable to play at the site.

Since the incident, more than £3,900 has been donated to the club to help repair the damage.

Writing on Facebook the club said: "We at Sutton Rovers are completely humbled by your donations and help we can't thank you all enough."

Police are investigating the death of a man whose body was found in a house in Spalding yesterday.

The 35-year-old man, who has been identified and his next of kin made aware, was found at a property in Juniper Crescent in Spalding.

A number of lines of enquiry are underway to try and establish what caused his death but officers say for now it is being treated as unexplained.

If you have information which could support the investigation, you are being asked to call 101.

Lincoln Cathedral says the measures will protect both the public and the floor of the building.

A seven-year-old boy from Lincolnshire has walked 120 miles in 10 days to raise money for a Motor Neurone Disease (MND) charity, after his grandmother died from the disease.

Image source, Amanda Crombie

Freddie Crombie (pictured above) walked from Waddington to the Humber Bridge, at Barton-upon-Humber, along part of the Viking Way.

He then started back at Waddington and walked as far as he could, in the opposite direction along the historic route.

He took on the challenge to raise money for the MND Association in memory of his grandmother and some money will go to his Scout group.

Image source, Amanda Crombie

Police visited Beira Alta Deli in Boston in May after a tip-off from a member of the public.

A man has admitted manslaughter following an incident in Grantham earlier this year.

Image source, Google maps

Luke Templeman, who appeared via video link, pleaded guilty at Lincoln Crown Court to the manslaughter of 34-year-old Danny Maguire on Friday, 28 February this year.

The charge follows an incident near to the King’s Arms pub in Westgate, Grantham, which left Mr Maguire with a serious head injury. Mr Maguire, who was from Retford, died in hospital on 6 March.

Templeman, 28, of Launder Terrace, Grantham, had previously admitted a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm arising from the incident but today he faced a charge of manslaughter and pleaded guilty.

Templeman was remanded in custody to appear back before the Crown Court for sentence on 8 October.

Lincoln Cathedral reopened to visitors today after being closed to tourists for more than four months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Image source, PA

It's been given the 'Good to Go' mark from Visit Britain meaning they have brought in a range of measures to keep everyone safe.

Visitors will be asked to wear a face covering during their visit and follow a one-way system around the building.

The majority of the cathedral will be open, but the library, some chapels and the refectory remain closed.

A Boston deli owner has been stripped of her licence to sell alcohol after police found customers drinking at the premises during the coronavirus lockdown.

Image source, Google

After an anonymous tip-off, police officers visited Beira Alta on West Street on 20 May where they found it was open to the public and customers were inside drinking alcohol.

The licence was revoked by Boston District Council Licensing Sub-Committee following a hearing. There is a 21 day appeal process; if no appeal is submitted then the suspension comes into force.

Sergeant Kim Enderby is the Alcohol Licensing Manager for Lincolnshire Police and said “The overwhelming majority of licensed premises in the county closed and remained closed following the Government order in March, despite the devastating effect to a lot of these business.

"Why this business chose to ignore the legislation and continue trading was never fully explained by the owner, who admitted during the hearing that she understood that she was not allowed to open."

People living in Gainsborough are being warned not to leave windows and doors open in the hot weather after a spate of break-ins.

Image source, Getty Images

Burglars have struck at 15 properties in the town in the past month, which officers believe were targeted due to windows being left open and unattended or insecure windows and doors.

Detective Inspector Dave Harrop of Lincolnshire Police says: “While people have been enjoying the good weather others have been out looking for opportunities to break into homes and steal possessions.

“We are working hard to find the person or people responsible, but in the meantime please be alert and keep your home as secure as it can be. Please try to avoid leaving windows open especially those on the ground floor.”

Market traders in South Holland can apply for funding of up to £5,000 to help them cope with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Frequent traders on the markets in Spalding, Holbeach, Long Sutton and Crowland will be eligible for the funding.

There are no restrictions on how the traders choose to spend their grants, which can be used to offset the impact of coronavirus over recent months or to invest in helping grow their offer for the future.

South Holland District Council is also temporarily waiving market fees for traders since their return in June to help them transition out of lockdown.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A cafe in Spalding is facing having its licence revoked for allegedly breaching coronavirus lockdown rules after people were seen eating and drinking inside.

Image source, Google

Jorge Carmezim, the designated premises supervisor at Rafael’s Coffee Shop, on Westlode Street, will appear before South Holland District Council’s licensing committee next Tuesday, external.

Lincolnshire Police said the premises had allowed “multiple customers on the premises consuming alcoholic drinks during the period when non-essential premises were required to be closed.”

A statement issued on behalf of Chief Constable Bill Skelly said police received a call stating Rafael’s had 20 customers inside eating, drinking and playing music on 20 June.

An officer using a body worn camera recorded “numerous” customers “sat at the bar drinking out of bottles” in the middle of the premises and in an outside seating area at the rear with “plates with remnants of food on and bottles on the tables in front of them”.

According to the evidence, when questioned Mr Carmezim admitted he knew pubs were not allowed to be open and when asked why he "shrugged his shoulders" and said: “Well I just open for a few friends, normally I don’t open but I just open for today and people coming in straight away’.”

The A17 near Sleaford has reopened following a serious crash earlier today.

The driver of a white Vauxhall Insignia was taken to hospital with serious injures after his car collided with a lorry near North Rauceby.

Lincolnshire Police have thanked people for their patience:

The Government is to invest £25.8m in supporting seven projects aimed at helping Lincolnshire's economic recovery from coronavirus.

Image source, PA Media

The successful projects will receive a portion of the £900 million Getting Building Fund which was announced by the Prime Minister in June.

Among the schemes to benefit are plans for a new pumping station at Killingholme, a new Centre for Innovation in Rural Health, at Lincoln Medical School, and improved cycle routes around Grimsby and Immingham.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A casino company wants to turn a former Boston pub into a 24-hour adult gaming centre.

Image source, Google

Merkur Cashino has applied to Boston Borough Council to open the new business at the former Delight Pub in West Street.

In documents before the authority the company which runs 162 such centres in the UK, says the development would bring a vacant unit back into use and will complement surrounding shops.

A man has been taken to hospital with serious injuries after a crash involving a car and a lorry on the A17.

Image source, Lincolnshire Police

The collision involving a white Vauxhall Insignia and a blue Scania happened at about 08:20 at the junction of Main Street and the A17 at North Rauceby, near Sleaford.

Lincolnshire Police say the driver of the Vaxuhall, a man in his 50s, suffered serious injuries and has been taken to Queens Medical Centre in Nottignham.

A force spokesperson said: "We are appealing for any witnesses to the collision or anyone who saw either vehicle prior to the collision to contact us.

"We also ask for anyone who was travelling on the A17 in that location to check their dashcam for any footage that may have the vehicles on."

The road remains closed between Main Street and Byards Leap but is expecetd to reopen at about 13:30, say police, external.

Long queues formed outside Lincoln's restaurants on the first day of the new 'eat out to help out' scheme.

The promotion gives people a discount of up to 50% when eating or drinking soft drinks in a participating restaurant or other food establishment. It is valid all day Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 3 to 31 August across the UK. The maximum discount available is £10 per person when you eat or drink in.

Richard Baxter, from the Lincoln Business Improvement Group, said it had been a case of "so far, so good".

He said: "Around 90 businesses are taking part in the scheme in the city centre [and] the word on the street is that they are really, really surprised; they've been really, really busy."

Detectives investigating the death of a man who died in hospital after being assaulted in Boston have released an image of a possible witness they want to trace.

Image source, Lincolnshire Police

Gediminas Vaitkus, 43, was discovered with a head injury in Red Lion Street, Boston, at about 18:15 BST on 28 July and died on Sunday.

Lincolnshire Police has appealed for a man pictured at a shop counter to contact officers.

The force said it wanted "to stress that this man is not a suspect but could be an important witness".

A spokesman also urged anyone with information or dashcam footage to get in touch.

The A17 has been closed at North Rauceby, near Sleaford, due to a "serious collision", say police, external.

A full closure is in place at RAF Cranwell and motorists are being advised to avoid the area.

A murder inquiry has been launched following the death of a man who was found with a serious head injury.

Image source, Lincolnshire Police

Gediminas Vaitkus, 43, was discovered injured on Red Lion Street in Boston at about 18:15 BST on 28 July and died on Sunday, police said.

An 18-year-old man appeared before magistrates in the town on Thursday charged with grievous bodily harm.