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Clayton Weatherston - Source: ONE News -
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The High Court in Christchurch has heard how murder accused Clayton Weatherston described the woman he is accused of killing as "ugly and disgusting."
Weatherston is charged with killing 22-year-old former girlfriend and student, Sophie Elliott, at her Dunedin home in January last year by stabbing her 216 times.
He denies murder, but has admitted manslaughter, saying he was provoked.
On Tuesday, Elliot's friend told the court she and Sophie would have gossip sessions about Weatherston when they worked together every Saturday.
She said she was surprised at the negative relationship she was told about, and how the accused would even specify how he wanted Sophie to wear her hair.
The court also heard that Weatherston told Elliott her "chin was too pointy, eyes too far apart...how disgusting she was."
In cross examination, the defence highlighted that was Elliott's version of events.
A former girlfriend of Weatherston also told the jury he once attacked her.
"He kicked me in the back and in the ribs, I travelled across the floor, he jumped on the back of my neck," she said in court.
The woman told the jury he could be kind and generous, but she often saw his `mean streak' too.
"At times he could have a very nasty mean streak, he would say very demeaning things to me."
The defence argues aspects of Weatherston's relationship with Elliott provoked him into killing her.
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