THE self-professed playboy convicted of murdering aspiring model girlfriend Emily Longley will find out next month whether his bid for freedom has been successful.

Elliot Turner, 21, will appear at the Court of Appeal in London on April 24 when his legal team will try to get his murder conviction overturned.

The hearing will take place before three judges and is expected to last one day.

Emily’s mother Caroline is planning on making the round-the-world trip from New Zealand to attend the appeal hearing.

Turner was jailed for life in May last year after being convicted of killing 17-year-old Emily in his bed at the family home in Queenswood Avenue, Queens Park, Bournemouth, on May 7, 2011.

He was told he would have to serve a minimum of 16 years behind bars before he would be considered for parole.

The trial at Winchester Crown Court heard the attack was the culmination of a month of anger and upset over suspicions that Emily was “twisting his heart” by seeing other men.

Turner admitted grabbing Emily by the throat during an argument but claimed it was self defence and she was alive afterwards.

Turner’s parents, Leigh and Anita Turner, were also convicted during the same trial of perverting the course of justice by destroying a confession note from Turner and removing a jacket from the scene. They were each jailed for 27 months.

Speaking about the appeal, Mark said: “We are happy the date has been set now and we can plan for it. Dorset police have been really good at keeping us informed since we found out he was given leave to appeal in December. We hope justice will once again prevail and we can put this whole business behind us.”

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

She returned to the UK to live with her grandparents in Southbourne and study a business diploma course at Brockenhurst College.