Emily's dad slams lover's proposal claims

Elliot Turner, left, pursued Emily for several months, says her father, Mark Longley. Photo / Supplied

The former lover of an Auckland-raised teenager found dead in his bed says he was preparing to propose to her - while claiming she was pregnant, taking drugs and unwell.

But Emily Longley's father last night rubbished the British man's comments, saying neither Emily nor her family had ever considered him to be a boyfriend.

Two months after Emily's mysterious death in England, Elliot Turner, 20, has told of what he says were her troubles and the hell the police have put him through.

Emily, 17, died on May 7 at Mr Turner's home in Bournemouth after a night out at a seaside winebar. He was arrested and released on bail the next day.

"Imagine waking up next to your girlfriend to find her dead," Mr Turner told the Herald.

"I heard she had ill health but how can you honestly predict that, that a girl can pass away at 17. It was such a shock."

He said he had been "living in a nightmare" since Emily died. He had been on anti-depressants and was seeing a psychiatrist.

Mr Turner said Emily had told him twice that she was pregnant. "Who knows? Did I lose not just a girlfriend? Did I also lose a kid as well? Who knows?"

Mr Turner, a jeweller, said he had put a deposit on a £6500 ($12,600) pink sapphire engagement ring and was going to take Emily to The Ritz in London to pop the question.

But last night, Emily's father, Mark Longley, dismissed Mr Turner's comments. "There's no way she would have married him. As a father, to hear Elliot talk about how difficult it is for him now just disgusts me."

Emily had returned to New Zealand in Easter, two months into their relationship, and told her family she was trying to end it.

"He pursued her for three or four months," Mr Longley said. "She used to tell me that she had someone going after her. She still wouldn't call him a boyfriend."

After returning to Britain, Emily had ended the relationship twice - the final time on the night of her death.

A late text to her mother, Caroline, said she had finally finished with Mr Turner.

Police are still trying to determine how Emily died. Mr Turner told the Herald he had seen her taking Ecstasy in the week of her death, but tests found no drugs in her system.

Mr Turner is on bail and is forbidden from making contact with Emily's parents and grandparents and could not attend a memorial service for her. Her body is still held by police.

Emily attended Takapuna Grammar and Westlake Girls High School in Auckland, modelled for Creme magazine and was a member of her schools' rowing teams.

She was very popular with schoolmates, but both Mr Turner and Mr Longley said she had at times dealt with health issues, eating disorders and other difficulties.

Emily moved to Bournemouth to live with her grandparents Ronald and Zosia Longley last year and was studying at a local college.

Days before she died, she had complained on Facebook that a stalker kept asking her out. Mr Turner had replied on Facebook: "It's because they know you're single now."

The home he shares with his mother Anita, father Kevin and brother Aaron, 17, was "turned upside down" by police.

His grandparents' home in the town was also searched.

His car, cellphone and wallet were seized, CCTV was taken from the jewellery shop and dozens of acquaintances were interviewed, including former girlfriends.

Mr Turner said police questioned him for hours. "They asked whether I had a gun. Was I a violent person? And 'we hear you're the leader of a gang'."

The police were referring to Mr Turner's close group of friends who have jokingly dubbed themselves The Firm. But he said they were not violent and did not deal drugs.

"It was just disgusting, absolutely ridiculous," Mr Turner said. "I was the closest person to her. When you're so close to someone, you know everything about them.

"I just sat there thinking, 'What on earth, why?' I could not understand."

Mr Turner is due to be reinterviewed by police this month.

Mr Longley declined to comment on Emily's death until police investigations are completed, but agreed to clarify elements of Emily's relationship with Mr Turner.

Mr Longley said Mr Turner had been seen out clubbing with other women since Emily's death.

Of hundreds of pictures on Facebook, only a small handful showed Emily and Mr Turner together, Mr Longley said.

"You don't have to be a great investigative journalist to realise this wasn't a serious relationship."

THE CASE

October 2010: Auckland schoolgirl Emily Longley went to live with her grandparents in England.
May 7, 2011: Emily found dead in on-off boyfriend Elliot Turner's bed in Bournemouth.
May 9: Bournemouth police announce they have arrested Mr Turner and a 17-year-old. No charges laid.
May 10: Emily's mother, Caroline, and sister Hannah, 15, meet police after arriving in Bournemouth from Auckland.
June 14: Police say a toxicology report has come back negative and nothing has yet been found in Emily's body that would have caused her death.