Abusive relationships at heart of foundation

Sophie Elliott. Photo / Supplied

A foundation named after murdered Dunedin woman Sophie Elliott, which aims to prevent violence towards younger women, is set to be launched in the coming weeks.

Lesley Elliott, mother of the 22-year-old student who was stabbed to death by Clayton Weatherston in 2008, said the Sophie Elliott Foundation aimed to educate Year 12 and 13 high school girls about abusive relationships.

"We want to be the fence at the top of the cliff rather than the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff," she said.

While full details of the foundation were yet to be released, it was unlikely to become a fulltime role for Mrs Elliott, who was "doing it for Sophie".

Yesterday, Mrs Elliott spoke at an Otago University Students Association Women's Week event entitled "Sophie's Story: What we missed".

The talk about her late daughter's experiences was aimed at helping others to recognise potentially harmful relationships.

She said no one should accept verbal and physical abuse, and urged those in abusive relationships to seek help - and most importantly get out of the relationship before the situation worsened.

"There are plenty of other Sophies out there as well ... They don't have to put up with this behaviour," Mrs Elliott said.

She had been heartened in November to hear from a woman with an 8-month-old baby who decided to leave her abusive husband after hearing Sophie's story.

Mrs Elliott will be joined as trustee by three other Dunedin residents and Kristin Dunne-Powell, former partner of TV sports presenter Tony Veitch. He pleaded guilty to injuring Ms Dunne-Powell with reckless disregard for her safety.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES