Weatherston takes stand, tells court of childhood anxieties

Clayton Weatherston is accused of murdering Dunedin student Sophie Elliott. Photo / The Press / Pool

A former university economics tutor on trial for the murder of his ex girlfriend has told the High Court of his many academic and sporting successes, and anxieties he suffered from early in his life.

Clayton Weatherston, 33, has spent the afternoon being questioned in detail by his lawyer, Judith Ablett-Kerr QC, about the period from his childhood through to starting university and work.

He is yet to be asked about his former girlfriend and student Sophie Elliott, 22, whom he stabbed and cut 216 times in Miss Elliott's bedroom in her family home on January 9 last year.

Weatherston says he is only guilty of manslaughter because 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 the university. Weatherston's defence team say his unique mental make-up meant he was ill-equipped to handle this relationship.

Giving evidence in court today, Weatherston frequently referred to his successes. The youngest of three children growing up in Dunedin, Weatherston said he was always top of the class in primary school in Dunedin, winning all of the tests and competitions, and at age six was reading the newspaper and occasionally drinking black coffee.

He said he was prescribed glasses after being embarrassed in class when he could not see the blackboard and failed to score 100 per cent in a test. He became upset at the diagnosis of his poor eyesight and the need for him to wear the glasses.

"I was terrified of being teased."

He said he also feared away trips for sport, and his parents would go with him and they would stay at motels when his friends were being billeted.

In athletics, Weatherston said he won several titles and medals.

At high school he would be "near the top of the top class each year" academically and won many awards. He was awarded Dux of the school in seventh form, and did not socialise much. After school, he felt pressure to go to university.

"I didn't have a clear direction, shall we say."

After two weeks at university he decided to go out to work at an accountancy firm, while continuing to do his undergraduate studies. Here he found other workers "just traded time for money" and didn't have much enthusiasm.

His clerk job was a "safety net" and would provide funding for university so that he didn't have to get a student loan.

Weatherston also revealed he used to play the role of mascot for Otago rugby team, "Shaq the Cat", and was formerly an aerobics instructor.