Elliot Turner's obsessive and violent behaviour before he strangled New Zealand girlfriend Emily Longley showed all the classic warning signs of domestic homicide, a family violence group says.
A jury in Britain this morning found Turner, 20, guilty of murdering 17-year-old Emily in his bedroom of the family home in Queens Park at Bournemouth on May 7 last year.
Turner faces life imprisonment and will be sentenced overnight tonight (Tue-Wed NZT).
Outside court, Emily's father Mark Longley described Turner as "evil'' and said the family had been shocked and disgusted during the trial.
"What's really shocked me is the lack of remorse,'' he said.
Jill Proudfoot, services director for domestic abuse charity Shine, said Emily's murder was preceded by the classic warning signs of escalating obsessive, possessive, jealous and violent behaviour.
She said friends of the couple saw the violence, heard the threats and felt scared and worried, but did nothing.
"It is sickening to hear friends describe statements made by Turner preceding his murder of Emily, in which he not only talks about killing Emily, but describes all the different ways in which he might murder her,'' Ms Proudfoot said.
"This case had many clear warning signs: Turner's previous violence to Emily, his extreme jealousy, and his clear statements of intent to kill her. He believed his violence was justified because of Emily's actions.''
Ms Proudfoot said domestic violence murders like Emily's were preventable, and people should be prepared to act when they think someone may be in danger.
She said offenders often twisted words or scenarios to suit their own purposes, manipulated victims, minimised their own actions, denied responsibility for the harm they caused, and ultimately blamed the victim for the abuse they suffered.
"Effectively, Turner wanted the last word, and he was going to ensure this happened come what may.''
British-born Emily, who moved to New Zealand when she was nine, had travelled to England shortly before her death to live with her grandparents in Southbourne.
Her mother Caroline said Emily was doing well in her study towards a business diploma at Brockenhurst College and had made some good friends.
Mrs Longley said the five weeks of the trial had been very long and arduous and they had prayed for justice for their daughter.
She was pleased the jury found Turner guilty of murder rather than manslaughter.
"It's been agonising waiting for that verdict, but today we got justice for Emily,'' she told Radio New Zealand today.
"It's a very difficult emotion because on one hand we're really happy that we've got justice for Emily, but on the other hand it would be fabulous if we could have Emily back, and we don't have her back.''
Police had led an amazing investigation and the family now knew what happened to Emily, which they did not know last year, Mrs Longley said.
"It was shocking, it was very, very, very disturbing. We were horrified that anyone could ever treat anyone that way, let alone our daughter.''
Mrs Longley said Turner had been "so obsessed'' with what Emily had been up to when she returned to Auckland for three weeks before her death.
"It was totally unjustified, he was just totally obsessed by Emily. She was far too good for him, out of his league.
"He was very much an image kind of person and Emily was no more than a trophy on his arm. And he said, `If I can't have her, no one else can.' Her crime was being forgiving, beautiful, far too nice and out of his league.''
Mrs Longley said it was heartbreaking to hear how degrading and controlling Turner had been. The family had no idea what was going on.
"I just don't know why she didn't tell anybody what she was going through. I think a lot of it was that he was manipulating her, he was blackmailing her,'' she said.
"The lesson that I want people to learn from this is that there are men out there who are totally controlling and we need to teach these young women about power and control in men.''
Mrs Longley urged anyone in a similar relationship to get out while they could.
The Daily Echo in Bournemouth reported Turner's parents Leigh and Anita Turner were found guilty of perverting the course of justice for destroying what police say was a confession note from Turner and removing a jacket from the crime scene.
Turner was also convicted of attempting to pervert the course of justice after he entered a guilty plea on that charge during the trial.
