Weatherston trial starts today

Former Otago University tutor Clayton Weatherston stands trial in the High Court at Christchurch today, charged with the murder of his student-girlfriend Sophie Elliott. Miss Elliott, 22, was stabbed to death in Dunedin on January 9 last year.

She suffered 216 stab wounds when she was allegedly attacked at the family's home in Ravensbourne.

The case was moved from Dunedin to Christchurch in February, after an application by defence counsel Judith Ablett-Kerr, QC, but the reasons for the move were suppressed.

Weatherston was ordered to stand trial after a depositions hearing midway through last year at which 17 witnesses gave evidence.