THE father of murdered York backpacker Caroline Stuttle plans to resettle in New Zealand and open an art gallery.

Alan Stuttle, 65, travelled to New Zealand after closing his studio in Micklegate, York, after 33 years.

He was inspired by the adventurous spirit of his daughter, Caroline, to sell the premises and use the proceeds to travel to New Zealand as Caroline had always planned to go there with her brother, Richard.

But he fell in love with the country so much he is now going back to buy a house and open a studio. Alan will continue to run his gallery in Scarborough and come back to England during the year.

Caroline, 19, from Huntington Road, a former York College student, was murdered while on a gap year backpacking trip in Bundaberg, Australia.

Ian Douglas Previte has been ordered to stand trial for her murder.

Updated: 10:54 Friday, April 02, 2004