Elliott family tells of traumatic trial

Gil, Lesley and Nick Elliott, family of murdered woman Sophie Elliott, talk to the media outside the Christchurch High Court. Photo / Simon Baker

Sophie Elliott's family has spoken of the trauma of sitting through Clayton Weatherston's murder trial, saying it was hard listening to their daughter's killer and reliving her death.

A jury at the High Court in Christchurch this morning found Weatherston, 33, guilty of murdering Ms Elliott, 22, in Dunedin on January 9 last year.

Members of the Elliott family and supporters erupted in a cheer as the guilty verdict was delivered.

One person shouted out "yes" and another said "you beauty" and one "well done" - directed towards the jury. Ms Elliott's immediate family sobbed and hugged in the public gallery and outside the courtroom.

Weatherston showed little emotion as the verdict was delivered.

The former Otago University tutor had admitted Ms Elliott's manslaughter – stabbing her 216 times - but argued he was provoked when she insulted him and attacked him after their relationship had ended.

Part of the attack was witnessed by Ms Elliott's mother, Lesley, who told the court of seeing Weatherston straddling and repeatedly stabbing her daughter with a knife.

Later defence comments that Mrs Elliott's traumatic experience made her a "less than reliable witness" drew gasps from the public gallery and prompted family members to walk out.

Outside the court after the guilty verdict was delivered today, Mrs Elliott said sitting through the trial had been hard "because obviously we were going over the events of the ninth of January [2008] and I was there.

"So, despite the fact I have had a lot of assistance over the last year to put some of that behind me of course I had to bring it all back up again, so it has been difficult," she said.

The Elliott family had appeared composed throughout the trial but Sophie Elliott's father Gil said they were only "apparently strong".

Mrs Elliot said "the public face is different from the private face – it's been tough".

She said she found listening to Weatherston giving evidence very hard and also struggled with the fact she could not rebut a lot of what was said by the defence in the trial.

"I know what went on in that room."

The family also found it offensive that parts of Ms Elliott's diaries had been read to the court, she said.

"They were her private thoughts. They were her privacy and I think for anyone who writes diaries you don't actually want anybody to read them. And we found that really offensive.

'Amazing support'

The family credited "the most amazing support" from wider family and friends for helping them get through the trial.

"And I think it's only that support that's really kept us going. So people say that I am strong but I actually think that it's the support of everybody else that makes you think you have to do this for everybody," Mrs Elliott said.

"And while there were probably times when Sophie would have said 'oh, just give it a miss Mum, don't worry about it, it's not worth it, move on' I think she would want to see this day as well.

She said her family was "really, really pleased" with the verdict.

"It was the right decision, it's been a long 18 months for us and we needed to see justice for Sophie, for her loss of life, and also for a lot of other girls that may be in that position.

Mr Elliott agreed it was the right verdict "but it doesn't our lovely daughter back".

Asked if this verdict brought closure for the family, Mrs Elliott said it did for one part of the process but did not take away their grief.

"But it does put the ugliness perhaps behind us."

Hard for both families

Mrs Elliott and other members of her family hugged members of the Weatherston family after the verdict had been delivered.

"We are parents, the same as they are and it must have been very hard for them as it has been for us."

Asked about how she wanted her daughter to be remembered, Mrs Elliott said "She was a very loving, vibrant girl and I think the message I would like to give is… I would like girls to value their families and listen to their mums and dads and friends and to take it in.

"I certainly wouldn't wish this on anybody."

Clayton Weatherston's father, Roger, told media Clayton was their son and brother.

"We loved him very much and will continue to do so, we were shocked for what he did and couldn't understand it as it was out of the character of the person we knew.

"We have been grateful for the opportunity to listen to the evidence at the trial and now have some understanding of this terrible event.

"We are very sad, we did not recognise that Clayton needed the help that he clearly does and hope that now at least he will receive it.

"Our thoughts are very much with the Elliott family and their tremendous loss."

The trial

The prosecution said Weatherston was clearly in control when he fatally stabbed and cut Ms Elliott 216 times, and that he failed to take any responsibility or show any remorse since.

But Weatherston's defence team argued he suffered from a personality disorder that did not allow him to say sorry, and it was this character, combined with scientific evidence, that meant he could not be convicted of murder.

Weatherston's lawyer, Judith Ablett-Kerr, QC argued that Weatherston was a "coiled spring" after a torrid relationship with Ms Elliott and he was provoked when she insulted him and attacked him with a pair of scissors.

But prosecutor Robin Bates said Weatherston had lied and sought to "rewrite the script" of the killing and incidents beforehand where it is alleged he assaulted Ms Elliott.

Nothing said or done by Ms Elliott deprived Weatherston of self-control, he said.

- with Newstalk ZB, NZPA