Accused murderer in Longley case changes plea

The British man accused of killing Emily Longley has changed one of his pleas to guilty.

The aspiring New Zealand model was found dead in the bed of Elliot Turner in the south of England last year.

The 20-year-old is accused of murdering her and of perverting the course of justice by asking his mother to lie to police.

The New Zealand Herald reports that today in court he changed his plea to guilty on the charge of perverting the course of justice.

Both of his parents, Leigh and Anita are charged with covering up for him.

TVNZ UK correspondent Garth Bray says the Winchester Crown Court has been played bugged recordings of Turner coaching his parents on what to tell police about the events following Emily Longley's death.

"Turner is heard explaining 'that sounds bad mum you can understand that's how you could wind up with a charge. It's how you say it', he was giving his parents instructions."

Turner's father Leigh has broken down in court while demonstrating how his son brushed off an alleged attack by Emily Longley.

UK correspondent Malcolm Stuart says the family arranged to change their evidence about the sequence of events, especially his mother.

"She agreed to change her account to the police because she originally said she called an ambulance first when in fact she'd called her husband and Elliot Turner said he thought that would look bad."

The trial is expected to wind up later this week.

Photo: Supplied