Defence evidence ends in Weatherston murder case

Murder accused Clayton Weatherston. Photo / The Press / Pool

Defence evidence in the Clayton Weatherston murder trial in Christchurch has ended and the jury has been sent away until 10am Monday morning.

The defence closed its case this afternoon after evidence from the final witness Associate Professor Philip Brinded.

The psychiatrist told the court Weatherston took virtually no responsibility for the killing of Sophie Elliott.

Professor Brinded was giving evidence in defence of Weatherston, 33, who is on trial for the murder of his former girlfriend.

Dr Brinded described Weatherston as a "grossly narcissistic individual", and said he seemed to blame Miss Elliott for what occurred.

Weatherston, a former Otago University economics tutor, stabbed and cut Miss Elliott 216 times. He admits manslaughter, but says he was provoked by the emotional pain he suffered, and Miss Elliott, 22, attacking him with a pair of scissors.

Dr Brinded told the court that his assessment of Weatherston was that he did not suffer from any major mental disorder, but could be diagnosed as suffering from a personality disorder dominated by narcissistic personality traits.

"I believe, based on all I have heard and seen in relation to this case, that the accused could be described as a grossly narcissistic individual."

When he interviewed Weatherston in May last year, Weatherston intimated "quite strongly" that Miss Elliott was responsible for the state of affairs in which he found himself, Dr Brinded said.

Weatherston "took virtually no responsibility for what had gone wrong with the relationship and even what happened". Weatherston has denied this in his own evidence, saying he played he part.

Weatherston told Dr Brinded he had brought shame on his family, and had thought so much about the events involving Miss Elliott that he was "almost over it".

He was very keen to redress the "imbalance" about what people were saying about he and Miss Elliott after the killing, Dr Brinded said.

When the jury returns on Monday it is expected the prosecution and defence will give their closing addresses to the jury.