THE parents of the man who murdered a Hampshire student have been released from prison after serving just half of their sentences for covering up their son’s crime.

Elliot Turner, now 22, is currrently serving a life sentence for strangling Brockenhurst College student Emily Longley in a jealous rage.

He will serve a minimum of 16 years behind bars.

His parents Leigh and Anita Turner were jailed for 27 months last July after being found guilty of perverting the course of justice at Winchester Crown Court.

Yesterday Mrs Turner refused a request for an interview at the couple’s home in Queenswood Avenue, Queens Park, Bournemouth.

Neighbours confirmed both Mr and Mrs Turner have been seen at the address in recent days.

Leigh, 55, and 52-year-old Anita destroyed what police said was a note from their son confessing to killing 17-year-old aspiring model Emily. They also removed a jacket from the crime scene at their home.

When his parents were sentenced the Honourable Mrs Justice Linda Dobbs said their family was “ruined.”

She told the couple: “People speak highly of the both of you and it’s a tragedy that you, who are both responsible people, have lost your good character by acting out of misplaced loyalty.

“It must have been hard for you to come to terms with what the jury found your son did.”

British-born Emily moved to New Zealand with her parents, Mark and Caroline, and younger sister Hannah, when she was nine-years-old.

She met Turner when she returned to the UK to study at Brockenhurst and to live with her grandparents in Southbourne.