Emily Longley trial: 'boyfriend strangled her'

Emily Longley's on-off boyfriend was suspicious she had been unfaithful to him, and flew into a rage and strangled her in bed, prosecutors have alleged.

He was then helped by his parents to cover up the alleged murder, the court has been told at the trial in England, the Mail Online has reported.

Longley's former boyfriend Elliot Turner, 20, is charged with murdering the 17-year-old Kiwi, who was found dead at his home in Bournemouth on May 7.

Turner's parents, Leigh, 57, and Anita, 51, have been charged with obstructing the course of justice.

All three maintain their innocence.

England-born Emily grew up in Auckland. She moved back to the UK in 2010 to finish her studies and had been living with her grandparents near Bournemouth.

Prosecutors alleged the night before Emily died the pair had argued, and an enraged Turner allegedly "went absolutely nuts" and strangled Emily, said the Mail Online.

His parents initially told police they had heard Emily talking in their son's bedroom, but the prosecution said she was already dead.

Turner said they had argued the night before and when he woke up early that morning she was dead.

When arrested he had his passport in his pocket and his bags packed, the court was told.

The Turners allegedly removed their son's jacket from the bedroom.

Police bugged their house in the weeks following Emily's death and allegedly heard Mr Turner say he had destroyed a letter written by his son: "I cannot tell them (the police) about the letter I destroyed by bleach saying he (Elliot Turner) killed her but he didn't mean it", he is reported as saying.

Mr Turner was also alleged to have said "Elliot f****** strangled her", the website reported.

The jury was told Mr Turner admitted destroying the letter and distracting police so the jacket could be removed.

Prosecutor Tim Mousley QC, told the court that Turner and Emily had a volatile relationship during which he became increasingly aggressive, threatening and possessive towards her and told her on several occasions he would kill her.

"These aspects of Elliot Turner became more and more obsessive and culminated in killing Emily Longley in his bedroom in the middle of the night," he said.

Turner suspected Emily had been unfaithful to him with other men in Bournemouth and during a trip to New Zealand.

In a note to him, Emily had allegedly written: "I love you. Don't say you will kill me. Stop talking about your ex-girlfriend and stop being so constantly aggressive. Be more cool because that's so much more hot".

On May 7, the ambulance was not called until 9.45am after several phone calls between parents and son.

Police examined the computer and found searches about death by strangulation and 'how to get out of being charged for murder', the court was told.

Mrs Turner confirmed she took the jacket but could not account for the delay in calling an ambulance, the court heard.

Emily's parents are in England to attend the four-week trial.

-APNZ