A new documentary which tells the tragic story of the murder of backpacker Grace Millane airs on TV tonight.

The Murder of Grace Millane: Social Media Murders will air on ITV 2 from 9pm.

The new true-crime series focuses on a real crime that resulted in the death of a young person and looks at how social media played a role in bringing together the culprit and the victim.

Miss Millane, from Wickford, was strangled to death in a hotel room in Auckland, New Zealand in December 2018, the day before her 22nd birthday.

Read more >> Former flatmate of Grace Millane's killer says he was ‘elaborate’ liar

She had met her killer Jesse Kempson on the dating app Tinder before they shared some drinks at a few bars.

During the couple's date, CCTV showed the pair appeared to be enjoying each other's company as they returned to his small downtown Auckland apartment.

The university graduate would never leave the room alive - her body later found dumped in a shallow grave in the Waitākere Ranges.

Echo: During the couple's date, CCTV showed the pair appeared to be enjoying each other's company as they returned to his small downtown Auckland apartmentDuring the couple's date, CCTV showed the pair appeared to be enjoying each other's company as they returned to his small downtown Auckland apartment

During the trial the court was told how phone records showed Kempson viewed pornography, took photos of Ms Millane’s body and searched for “rigor mortis”, “extra large bags”, “carpet cleaner”, “hottest fire” and “Waitakere Ranges” on December 2, 2018.

Read more >> PICTURED: Killer of Grace Millane unmasked as Jesse Kempson

Later that day Kempson left his apartment and bought a large suitcase and cleaning products.

He hired a car and during the afternoon Googled “flesh eating birds” and “are there vultures in New Zealand”.

The same day he went on another Tinder date, hired a carpet cleaning machine and later returned it.

He would then that evening take Miss Millane’s body inside a suitcase down to the hire car and the next day drives to Waitakere Ranges.

On December 5 Miss Millane’s worried family file a missing person’s report.

Kempson is contacted because he left a comment on one of Miss Millane’s Facebook photos. He is interviewed by police and says the pair went their separate ways after meeting at SkyCity.

On December 8 he admits Miss Millane is dead but says he did not murder her. He then takes police to where she is buried.

Echo: Grace Millane at a bar inside the SkyCity casino in Auckland with Jesse KempsonGrace Millane at a bar inside the SkyCity casino in Auckland with Jesse Kempson

He appears in court but denies murder and in November 2019 a jury finds him guilty.

He was jailed for life and must serve a minimum of 17 years in prison before being eligible for parole.

The documentary has been made by Firecracker Films and is one of three which will air.

The episode description said: "Raising questions around women’s safety, this film documents the night of Grace’s disappearance, the subsequent search for her, the arrest of Jesse, the court case that followed and ultimately the role that a dating app played in bringing these two individuals together.

Echo: Kempson was jailed for life and must serve a minimum of 17 years in prison before being eligible for paroleKempson was jailed for life and must serve a minimum of 17 years in prison before being eligible for parole

"Exclusive interviews with the investigators closest to the case combined with both revealing police interview footage with the culprit Kempson and CCTV footage tell the story of a truly chilling case that sparked worldwide media attention.

"Other individuals also speak for the first time including Grace’s friends, a fellow traveller and former flat-mate of Kempson as she recounts her own experience of knowing the cold-blooded killer and the suspicions she had of him prior to this event.

"Kempson’s ‘rough sex defence’ otherwise known as the ‘50 shades of grey defence’ is also explored during this documentary, and how this case in particular inspired a change in British law."