THE man accused of killing Grace Millane took intimate photographs of her dead body and watched pornography a number of times after the backpacker died, a court has heard. 

The 27-year-old defendant, who cannot be named because of a supression order, claims Ms Millane's death was an accident.

He argues the pair had engaged in rough sex, which had ended on the floor, and she had died during "an act designed to enhance her sexual pleasure" and with Ms Millane's "knowledge and encouragement".

But the prosecution say phone records showed the defendant had looked at pornography online multiple times after Ms Millane died and took seven intimate photographs of her body.

The records also allegedly showed he had searched online for "the hottest fire", "large bags near me" and "Waitakere Ranges" - where her body was later found in the suitcase - before going on another Tinder date later that day.

He then hired a professional carpet cleaning device.

The young woman, from Wickford, was on a round-the-world trip when she arrived in New Zealand last November and went on a Tinder date with the man now accused of her murder.

The Crown alleged in Auckland High Court that the 27-year-old defendant strangled Ms Millane during rough sexual intercourse at his apartment in the centre of the city.

The defence claims the death, on either December 1 or December 2, 2018, the date of Ms Millane's 22nd birthday, was accidental.

Crown prosecutor Robin McCoubrey countered that, saying: "strangling someone to death with your hands isn't inadvertent - all of the evidence points away from an accident.

"If something had gone wrong, or someone fell unconscious and it was an accident, you'd expect someone to call for emergency assistance.

"But (the accused) had plainly gone to some lengths to break any forensic links between him and Ms Millane."

Security footage showed the accused bought the suitcase and later used a trolley to take it from his apartment to a hire car.

Ms Millane's remains were found inside the suitcase in a shallow grave off Scene Drive on December 9.

Footage from surveillance cameras in Auckland also captured Ms Millane up until she entered the defendant's apartment.

"Only two people know what happened in that room, one of them can't tell us, the other one hasn't told the truth about what happened," Mr McCoubrey said.