Sophie Elliott’s killer Clayton Weatherston denied parole

Clayton Weatherston, one of New Zealand’s most violent offenders, has been denied parole 18 years after being imprisoned for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Sophie Elliott.

Denial of Parole

The Parole Board will not consider Weatherston’s release again until November of next year. The 50-year-old killed 22-year-old Elliott in a violent attack at her Dunedin home in 2008.

Weatherston, appearing before the board in prison attire – a grey t-shirt, shorts, and white Crocs – reportedly expressed remorse, though his lawyer indicated he did not expect to be granted parole at this hearing. Parole Board chairwoman Jan Marie Doogue acknowledged his stated anxiety was “understandable.”

Victim’s Father Expresses Disappointment

Sophie Elliott’s father, Gil Elliott, expressed relief at the decision but voiced disappointment that the process would need to be repeated in less than two years. He questioned the sincerity of Weatherston’s remorse, noting his client appeared to break down during the hearing, asking if it was “sorrow for himself.”

Weatherston was an economics tutor at Otago University at the time of the murder. He locked Elliott in her bedroom as she prepared to move to Wellington for a job with the Treasury. Her mother, hearing her daughter’s screams, was unable to enter the room until after the attack, finding the scene “red.”

Details of the Crime and Weatherston’s Explanation

Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Jeremy Skipworth questioned Weatherston about the excessive violence – over 200 stab wounds and subsequent mutilation – to which Weatherston responded that he had projected his rage onto Elliott due to the pain he felt in their relationship. He described his actions as a “brutal visceral way of wiping someone out” and expressed embarrassment and disturbance over his “primal urges.”

Weatherston stated he experiences flashbacks to the day of the murder, his 32nd birthday, causing him stress and shame, with daily triggers while incarcerated. Three recent psychiatric reports assessed him as high risk, particularly in intimate relationships.

Assessment and Concerns

While Weatherston acknowledged the need for rehabilitation and expressed willingness to participate, he questioned the diagnosis of severe narcissistic and psychopathic personality disorder, suggesting it was a “hybrid” rather than a strict classification.

Gil Elliott stated his belief that narcissists are incapable of change, asserting that Weatherston remains the same as he was on the day he was imprisoned. He added, “The bottom line is we don’t want him out; we don’t think he should come out, not after what he did. He should stay there forever.”

Weatherston has spent 1,000 hours reading psychology books and worked in the prison kitchen for seven years, where he was described as polite and respectful. He expressed regret for using the now-abolished partial defence of provocation, claiming their tumultuous relationship and an alleged attack by Elliott drove him to murder. He stated he regretted shifting blame onto his victim.

Parole Board Decision

The Parole Board took 10 minutes to reach its decision. Chairwoman Doogue informed Weatherston that he had “a long way to go” and needed to address his “responsitivity barriers” – including narcissism, neurodiversity, and offence-paralleling behaviour – with the help of psychologists.