Emily Longley trial: Elliot Turner admits threats to kill

A wealthy jeweller's son accused of strangling his girlfriend in a jealous rage has admitted he had threatened to kill her 10 or 15 times before.

Elliot Turner, 20, said he had never meant it and claimed Emily Longley, 17, had said the same thing and phrases like "I hate you" during their rows.

The aspiring model and student was found dead in Mr Turner's bed at his house in Bournemouth, Dorset, last May.

Mr Turner, of Queenswood Avenue, denies murder at Winchester Crown Court.

Giving evidence, he told the hearing that they had begun a sexual relationship in December 2010 after going out for a meal.

He said: "We instantly clicked. We had similar interests, similar choice of drinks. She shared my food - it was sweet and sour chicken I think.

"It was amazing how well we got on. It was a really, really good time."

Harassment warning

Mr Turner said there had only been "petty" arguments and he denied he was obsessive about Emily.

But he admitted he had become aware that she had been contacting other men after looking at her Facebook page and feared she had rekindled a relationship with an ex-boyfriend when she returned home to New Zealand in March last year.

He said on the evening before she died he had called her a "whore" after she turned up at a bar wearing revealing clothes.

Elliot Turner said he "did say some harsh things"

"I did say some harsh things, it's true," he said.

He also admitted that he assaulted her and threatened to kill her the same night, after she poured drinks on him as they argued in a booth.

"Stupidly I grabbed Emily by the waist towards where I was sitting.

"I was just swearing - saying things I didn't mean, which I regret now, but at the time I didn't know what had come over me."

Mr Turner denied talking to a friend, Tom Crowe, about how to kill Emily the day before she died, calling the accusation "rubbish".

He did admit to having been unfaithful during their relationship.

The jury was also told that Mr Turner received a harassment warning letter from the police in January 2008, telling him not to contact an ex-girlfriend.

Mr Turner also denies perverting the course of justice. His parents Leigh Turner, 54, and Anita Turner, 51, also deny perverting the course of justice.

The trial continues.