THE father of murdered model Emily Longley has spoken out on the fifth anniversary of his daughter's death as part of a campaign against family violence.

Mark Longley has written a first-hand account of his family's loss, after living without 17-year-old Emily for five years, in the hope his words can raise awareness of the cause.

Emily had been dating former Uplands School pupil Elliot Turner, 20, who in May 2012 was found guilty of her murder.

Writing on the fifth anniversary of Emily's death on Saturday, Mr Longley said: "It was the last time I saw my daughter Emily alive. After coming to New Zealand for an Easter holiday visit she was heading back to England. I gave her a long hug and we talked about her coming back in September for the Rugby World Cup.

"I didn't know that would be the last time I would hug her. If I had I wouldn't have let her go.

"As I drove away from the airport she texted me. 'It was so good to see you, love you.' I still have the text.

"The next time I saw Emily she was lying on a table in a morgue, her life so cruelly taken away from everyone who loved her."

Turner was jailed for 16 years after strangling his ex-girlfriend in his bedroom at his family home in Queenswood Avenue, Queens Park, after appearing at Winchester Crown Court.

His parents Leigh and Anita Turner were found guilty of perverting the course of justice for trying to cover for their son.

Speaking of Turner in his article for a New Zealand newspaper, Mr Longley wrote: "He gave no thought at all for the people who for 17 years had loved, nurtured and raised Emily. He stood behind her, put his arm around her neck and choked the life out of her.

"Even as I write these words five years later I still can't believe someone would do a thing like that, especially to Emily.

"All anniversaries are hard. Birthdays are hard. Christmas is hard. Easter is also tough because it was the last time I really spent time with her.

"The judge, when she sentenced Turner to 16 years in prison, summed it up perfectly: 'Loving someone is not seeking to control that person's life. You did not love her - she was just a trophy. The relationship, if that's what it can be called, was all about you'."