Elliott murder trial: 'Clayton wanted out'

By JOHN HARTEVELT - The Press

Last updated 15:40 10/07/2009

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A colleague told Clayton Weatherston "it would be best if he would just leave Sophie Elliott alone," days before he killed her.

Professor Dorian Owen, an Otago University economist, is this afternoon giving evidence at Weatherston's murder trial at the High Court in Christchurch.

Weatherston, 33, admits killing his ex-girlfriend Elliott, 22, in a bedroom attack at her Dunedin home on January 9 last year.

He denies it was murder, however, saying he was provoked.

Owen, a defence witness, told the court that by November 2007, he had gained the impression "that Clayton wanted out of the relationship."

Elliott had gone on holiday to Australia at about that time and Weatherston seemed relieved, Owen said.

"Clayton was relieved that she was going because it would give him a break and some space," Owen said.

When Elliott came back from her holiday, Weatherston had said he was "having a really hard time with Sophie."

"He wasn't extremely agitated. He spoke in a matter-of-fact kind of way," Owen said.

Weatherston was a "very controlled person" and didn't wear his heart on his sleeve.

He complained about Elliott's "attention seeking behaviour that he claimed was to try and make him jealous."

"Sophie was the type of person who would say what was on her mind," Owen said.

Weatherston's relationship with Elliott seemed to be "exciting and dramatic."

Weatherston told him he had told Elliott that there was no future in the relationship and that they had to split up.

Owen said he told Weatherston to "keep his head down and she would be leaving soon …... it would be best if he would just leave her alone."

He said it seemed the relationship would come to a "natural end" when Elliott moved to Wellington to start a job at the Treasury on January 10.

Owen was this afternoon called as a witness at the trial before Weatherston finished giving evidence in his own defence. Weatherston is now likely to resume on the stand next week.

The trial was delayed this morning by legal argument.

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