Lawyers sum up in Longley murder case

NZ Newswire Updated May 17, 2012, 7:18 pm

Remorseless, controlling, possessive and vicious - that's how the prosecution has described Elliot Turner, the man accused of murdering aspiring Kiwi model Emily Longley.

Turner, 20, has denied murdering Emily, 17, on May 7 last year at his family home in Bournemouth, England.

He has admitted perverting the course of justice.

His parents, Leigh and Anita Turner, have also been charged with perverting the course of justice, which they deny.

In summing up the case in Winchester Crown Court on Wednesday, prosecutor Timothy Mousley QC said Turner had no need to defend himself against Emily, contrary to his claim.

The Bournemouth Echo reports Mr Mousley told the jury: "Elliot has admitted to taking Emily by the throat until she was no longer moving, couldn't look at her, left her. He didn't seek to check on her."

He cited the forensic evidence, saying "the mucus, the make-up and the blood on Elliot's white shirt and the scratch on his arm - all support the sleeper hold was used".

Turner's lawyer, Anthony Donne QC, in summing up the defence, called his client "a loudmouth, a bullshitter, hot air merchant, all talk and no action".

He described the couple's volatile relationship and said despite an argument earlier in the evening on May 6, when Emily threw a drink at Turner, she went home with Turner of her own accord.

Mr Donne also said there was plenty of evidence Emily was well capable of striking back if she was attacked.

He pointed out that the pathologists could not rule out that Emily had died of sudden adult death syndrome; neither could they give a cause of death.

Leigh Turner's lawyer, Robert Grey, then summed up his defence. He said his client "is an unremarkable man and is a law abiding citizen".

He said Leigh Turner, 54, admitted ripping up a letter but insists he did not read it and did not intend to pervert the course of justice, the Bournemouth Echo reports.

"It wouldn't have been obvious to him at that time that letter was evidence in the case," Mr Grey said.

The trial continues on Thursday with the defence for Anita Turner, 51, summing up, followed by the judge.

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