Model Murder: Boyfriend Gets At Least 16 Years

A wealthy jeweller's son has been jailed for at least 16 years for killing his "trophy" girlfriend in a jealous rage.

The judge told Elliot Turner to cast out thoughts of "champagne, Bentleys and girls" and concentrate on his crime - the killing of 17-year-old Emily Longley in his bed.

He was found guilty by a jury at Winchester Crown Court on Monday of murder after going "absolutely nuts" at his girlfriend.

The attack on Miss Longley, who had come over from New Zealand to study just eight months before, followed a month of growing anger over suspicions that she was seeing other men.

The 20-year-old claimed he acted in self-defence when he grabbed his girlfriend by the throat.

He told the court he woke up to find Miss Longley dead at his parent's home in Bournemouth, Dorset, in May last year.

His parents Leigh, 54, and Anita, 51, also face jail after being found guilty of helping to cover up the crime by destroying a confession letter from their son.

They removed vital evidence after the killing and will be sentenced later after being convicted of perverting the course of justice.

The judge, Mrs Justice Dobbs said Turner had "bullied, harassed, threatened and assaulted" Miss Longley to control her as his "trophy" girlfriend.

She described the victim as "a lovely, kind, fun-loving girl who brought a ray of sunshine to those she touched.

"That light has been extinguished suddenly and needlessly by you."

Turner, who had a history of obsessive relationships with women, started seeing Emily in December 2010.

But he became jealous after seeing pictures of Miss Longley with ex-boyfriends and other men during a trip to her parents' home in Auckland, New Zealand.

He said she was "twisting his heart", and began threatening to kill her on an almost daily basis.

The prosecution said that after a violent argument, Turner used a pillow to smother Miss Longley and then strangled her.

Turner did "not know the meaning of love", the judge said.

"Loving someone is not telling them they are a whore, it is not trying to control them, it is not threatening them, it is not slagging them off to your friends", Mrs Justice Dobbs said.

"The relationship, if it can be called that, was all about you. It was about control - control you carried out using aggression and threats.

"You could not be seen to be dumped by her and be seen to look like an idiot to your friends."

Mrs Justice Dobbs said she believed it was only a matter of time before Turner killed his girlfriend.

"Your arrogance towards Emily when on remand and during the trial has been breathtaking. Your lack of remorse is chilling.

"In my judgment it's apparent you had been thinking of killing Emily and it was only a matter of time before it happened because it's clear she wanted to be free from you and you would not let that happen - if you could not have her, no one else would do," she said.

Miss Longley's mother Caroline, father Mark, and younger sister Hannah had flown over from New Zealand for the trial and were in court to hear the sentencing.

Speaking outside court, Mr Longley said he was satisfied with the outcome.

"We are pleased he is not on the streets now. He's an incredibly dangerous person and we are relieved he cannot do this again," he said.

He added that the family could now move on and grieve.