Parents Jailed For Destroying Sons Confession Of Murder
A couple have been jailed for 27 months each for destroying crucial evidence after their jealous son murdered his teenage girlfriend.
Elliot Turner, 20, was found guilty by a jury of strangling 17-year-old Emily Longley in a rage because he suspected she was seeing other men.
Following the crime Turner’s parents, Leigh, 54, and Anita, 51, destroyed a letter of confession he had written and concealing a jacket they thought may have linked him to the murder.
Sentencing the couple for perverting the course of justice, Mrs Justice Dobbs said: "I appreciate it must be very difficult for a parent when faced with the situation you found yourself in but you well knew what you did was wrong and against the law."
She said the act of destroying a confession letter was a "very serious offence" and added: "It strikes at the integrity of the criminal justice system."
The court heard that Mr Turner destroyed the confession letter written by his son with the agreement of his wife. Mrs Turner removed the jacket from the crime scene as she feared it would implicate Elliot.
Their actions were uncovered when police bugged their house and recorded conversations in which they discussed whether they had done the right thing.
