Sophie's killer will be target in jail: expert

Clayton Weatherston will be remembered for his arrogance as much as for the murder he committed. Photo / The Press, pool

Convicted murderer Clayton Weatherston faces a harsh introduction to life in prison, where his crime and superior demeanour are likely to make him a target for rough justice, a criminologist says.

Dr Greg Newbold of Canterbury University said the 33-year-old, who on Wednesday was found guilty of murdering Sophie Elliott, will have to go into isolation when he begins what will probably be a long jail term.

He was "almost certain" Weatherston would be sent to the maximum-security wing of Auckland Prison at Paremoremo following his sentencing in September.

But wherever he goes, Dr Newbold doubted he would get any sympathy. "He won't get any from the screws [guards] and he definitely won't get any from the inmates."

"He will be well known ... They will be anticipating his arrival. The screws will too. They will be given instructions to protect him from assault. Whether or not that happens is another thing."

Dr Newbold said it would take Weatherston at least three years to fully assimilate into the prison culture as he comes to grips with its intricacies, rules and inside hierarchy.

A lot depended on how Weatherston adapted to his new environment and how he dealt with his incarceration.

"I heard he was a very good tutor at university and was good at explaining complex things to students - that aspect of his personality might save him from a lot of grief," he said.

"But on the other hand, the aspects we saw in the [witness] box, the arrogance and so on, might work against him. Mind you, there is nothing like a couple of good hidings to stop a person being arrogant."

The director of the Rethinking Crime and Punishment lobby group, Kim Workman, said jail management would probably ensure Weatherston had very limited contact with other inmates. "Certainly initially it would be the safest thing to do."

Weatherston's "personality disorders" would be problematic not only for inmates but also for the authorities, who will expect him to submit to their directions, said Mr Workman.

"That would be very hard for someone who is narcissistic. There is going to be the pecking order with inmates and he won't be at the top of that list.

"Being a middle-class and white intellectual, he will have difficulties and his placement will have to be very carefully managed."

Sensible Sentencing Trust spokesman Garth McVicar doubted Weatherston would be sent to a maximum-security facility, although he thought his crime warranted it.

"Even though this man has committed one of New Zealand's most atrocious crimes, his history as a hard-core recidivist is not there."

Yesterday, a spokesman for the Department of Corrections said there was "no information" to confirm reports Weatherston had been moved to a secure unit at Christchurch Men's Prison after an alleged assault and verbal abuse from other inmates.

When asked if the department knew about an alleged $55,000 price that had been put on Weatherston's head in exchange for his "unpleasant death", the spokesman said there had been "no information to that end".

The sentencing is set for September 15 in the High Court at Christchurch.