Sophie Elliott 'very forward', murder accused tells court

Clayton Weatherston told the court he didn't think he would be an easy person to have a relationship with when he was stressed. Photo / The Press / Pool

A former university economics tutor has told the High Court the ex-girlfriend he killed and mutilated was callous in outlining her previous sexual experiences with other men.

Clayton Weatherston said Sophie Elliott was "more forward than I had ever encountered" when she first approached him in May, 2007, at Otago University where he was a lecturer and she was a student. He said Miss Elliott would ask him to list the things he liked about her, and provide her own lists of things that she did and did not like about him.

Weatherston, 33, is giving evidence in the High Court at Christchurch where he is on trial for the murder of Miss Elliott, 22, on January 9 last year.

Weatherston stabbed and cut Miss Elliott 216 times in her bedroom in her Dunedin family home, and admits he is guilty of manslaughter. However he says he was provoked by Miss Elliott, and lost control.

The pair had previously been in a tumultuous relationship, while Weatherston had lectured Miss Elliott in economics at Otago University. Weatherston's defence team say his unique psychological make-up meant he was ill-equipped to handle this relationship.
Weatherston said Miss Elliott first approached him at his university office in May, 2007, because she was seeking help about interviews she had coming up in Wellington. She came in "almost begrudgingly".

Two or three weeks later they had a conversation of three to four hours that lasted into the evening, and they had something to eat together.

"She was very forward. More forward that I had ever encountered before. In terms of.....flirtation, in terms of her interest in me," Weatherston said.

"She said I could call her at any stage."

"I was very flattered by it of course. She was very engaging. She had a lot energy......a lot of zest."

Weatherston said Miss Elliott invited him to her home, where they watched DVDs and he ended up staying the night there. They did not have sex, but Miss Elliott's mother was disappointed in her daughter.

Miss Elliott spoke about her previous relationships. Weatherston said he understood she was available and single, but subsequently found out "there may have been something".

Later they almost engaged in sex and Weatherston said it left him feeling "pretty vulnerable really".

But he thought it could be quite good - "I could foresee a pretty good sexual relationship".

Weatherston said he attended a 21st birthday of a friend of Miss Elliott's, and she got jealous about him talking to other women.

When they met later, Weatherston said Miss Elliott made some comments he didn't take too kindly to. She spoke explicitly about a former boyfriend and her sex life with him.

He said Miss Elliott told him the former boyfriend had a penis that was ridiculously out of proportion with his body, spoke about sex they would have, and at how it could be painful for her.

"For me, I couldn't understand where it was coming from. I was extremely disappointed," Weatherston said.

"I was crestfallen by it all."

Weatherston said it seemed quite callous and "a fairly self-destructive thing to do".

"My natural instinct was one of repulsion. I didn't want to think of her with someone else."

He said he was mindful of pandering to her insecurities "unlike what she was doing to me".

At a later time, when they were in a spa together, Weatherston said Miss Elliott asked him to list all of the things he liked about her. He said Miss Elliott also had her own list of things that she did and did not like about him.