A Bournemouth man who strangled a teenage girl to death
has been convicted of murder following a detailed investigation by
the Major Crime Investigation Team.
The murderer’s mother and father have
also been convicted of intent to pervert the course of
justice.
Elliot Turner, 20, killed Emily Longley in his
bedroom at his home address along Queenswood Avenue on Saturday 7
May 2011. Turner, along with his parents Leigh and Anita Turner,
then attempted to deceive investigators.
The court heard that 17-year-old Emily had
ended her relationship with Turner shortly before her death – the
jealous and unpredictable Turner had threatened the Brockenhurst
College student repeatedly and boasted of his violent intentions to
a number of his friends.
During one such incident, Turner turned up at
a Bournemouth wine bar armed with a brick hammer and threatened a
man he considered a rival.
Detective Inspector Neil Devoto, of
Bournemouth CID, said: “Evidence was heard that Turner’s behaviour
toward Emily became increasingly aggressive, with a number of the
witnesses recalling the unacceptable way that he would talk to and
treat her.
“He could not accept that Emily no longer
wished to be his girlfriend and his obsessive nature clearly
spiralled out of control. He planned Emily’s killing, convincing
her to spend the night at his bedsit and even going as far as to
practice strangle holds with one of his friends.
“After attacking Emily, we believed that
Turner delayed in contacting the emergency services – instead
confiding in his parents, who also chose not to seek medical
assistance immediately. They used this time to ensure that their
stories matched up before they spoke with the police.
“Desperate to protect their son, Leigh and
Anita Turner destroyed what we believe to be a confession letter
from Elliot Turner and also removed a jacket from the scene.”
Turner was found guilty at Winchester Crown
Court today, Monday 21 May 2012. The jury returned a unanimous
verdict in 9 hours. He had earlier pleaded guilty to intent to
pervert the course of justice.
They will be sentenced in about four weeks’
time.
Leigh and Anita Turner, aged 53 and 50
respectively, were found guilty of intent to pervert the course of
justice. They were also convicted at Winchester Crown Court today,
Monday 21 May 2012.
They will be sentenced in about four weeks’
time.
DI Devoto continued: “The jury has today
dismissed Turner’s baseless claims that he was acting in self
defence and has found him guilty of Emily’s murder.
“This verdict comes at the end of a complex
investigation by Dorset Police – an investigation made even more
challenging due to the actions of Turner and his parents.
“Emily was a beautiful, popular and well-loved
young lady, who had only moved to Dorset, from New Zealand, a year
before she was tragically murdered by a violent and controlling
individual.
“This has been an understandably difficult
time for Emily’s family and friends – both locally and overseas –
and I would like to thank them, and the many witnesses who helped
in this investigation, for their time and co-operation.
“The facts of this case are extremely tragic and I hope that
this conviction goes some way to provide closure for Emily’s loved
ones.”A Bournemouth man who strangled a teenage girl to death has
been convicted of murder following a detailed investigation by the
Major Crime Investigation Team.