Prosecutors 'scraping the barrel', Weatherston says

Weatherston admits manslaughter but says he was provoked into stabbing Sophie Elliott 216 times. Photo / The Press, Pool

Clayton Weatherston has told the prosecution in his murder trial that they are "scraping the barrel" in their questioning of him.

The former Otago University economics lecturer, 33, is being cross-examined today by prosecutor Robin Bates in the High Court at Christchurch, where he is on trial for the murder of his ex girlfriend and student Sophie Elliott, 22,

Weatherston admits he is guilty of manslaughter, but says he was provoked by Miss Elliott and lost control when he stabbed and cut her 216 times.

Weatherston was asked today about a series of incidents when he was living with a girlfriend prior to Miss Elliott, whose name is suppressed.

Mr Bates asked Weatherston about an incident in which he threatened to throw his cat off his balcony. Weatherston said this was said to his former girlfriend "in jest".

"I can't believe we are talking about this. You are scraping the barrel," Weatherston told Mr Bates.

The former girlfriend has given evidence that Weatherston once kicked her in the back and ribs, causing her to travel across the floor, and then he jumped on her.

Weatherston disputed this version of events, saying he kicked her only once and accidentally pushed her head into her knee, causing her nose to bleed, as he tried to jump over her.

Asked by Mr Bates if the woman was lying, Weatherston said: "I think she's impressionable and I think her recall is a bit scrambled, just sort of the way she is in respect to all sorts of things".

"The stress of the incident may have affected her recall."

Weatherston denied blaming the woman for the incident.

"As I said to her, it's the worst thing I had ever done in my life."

"Seriously, she could have died. I mean it. I think it was an extremely serious incident."

Weatherston was asked if he called the woman an "ungrateful bitch." He said he called her an "ungrateful something", but he did not generally use such crass terms as bitch.

Asked about the woman's description him of as having a nasty side, Weatherston said there might be rare occasions where he was nasty.

"I'm a human being, yes."

Weatherston agreed with Mr Bates that he sent Miss Elliott a letter in August, 2007, to appease her after troubles in their relationship.

Mr Bates suggested to him that it was full of compliments that were lies.

"Yes, it's been slightly over-embellished but lying is too strong a word," Weatherston said.

"It was purely meant to flatter."

Miss Elliott was a very insecure person and needed reassurance, Weatherston said.

"I like the idea of the romanticism of it and I think she liked it too."