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The central question raised during closing arguments at Clayton Weatherston's murder trial was is he just a liar or should he be believed?
The Crown argued the accused did exactly what he set out to do - stab and mutilate his ex- girlfriend Sophie Elliott.
The defence says he was provoked.
Crown prosecutor Robin Bates told the High Court in Christchurch Weatherston made a deliberate, calm and premeditated decision to kill and mutilate Elliott.
In his closing address to the jury on Monday, day 18 of Weatherston's murder trial, Bates said that Weatherston clearly meant to kill her. It was a decision he made either before he went to her home on January 9 last year, or shortly after he arrived.
Bates said there had been only brief communication, if any, between Weatherston and Miss Elliott, and nothing to provoke him.
The Crown argues otherwise Weatherston would show remorse.
"Couldn't bring himself to say that he regretted Sophie's death and mutilation," said Bates.
Weatherston's allegation that he had been attacked with scissors was illogical and not supported by evidence.
"You can't believe what the accused says about what happened before the event. If something reflects badly, he lies about it to avoid responsibility."
Bates accused Weatherston of using spin and exaggeration, and turning the story around to suit his purposes.
"He lies about the events, he rewrites the script and obviously tries to avoid responsibility by suggesting it was Sophie's fault," he said.
Weatherston said he was going to drop presents at Miss Elliott's front door and go away again. But he locked the car and still took his bag containing the knife with him to the door.
"This is because he has in mind what happens a few minutes later. It is not coincidence. The bag and the knife are there for a reason."
Surrounding evidence did not support Weatherston's account. The evidence of what Miss Elliott's mother saw and heard was different.
Bates said Weatherston had locked the door of the bedroom where the attack occurred because he did not want to be disturbed until he had finished what he set out to do - to both kill and mutilate Miss Elliott.
The accused did not lose his power of self control. The 214 stab wounds were described as a persistent, focused and determined attack. When a police officer arrived, he talked to him in a calm normal tone. He was in a normal state, in control of himself.
"He did exactly what he set out to do."
There was still no remorse, Bates said.
"Exactly the opposite, she deserved what she got. She was responsible for the state of affairs he found himself in. He is still saying this was her fault, she caused this."
He urged the jury to return a verdict of guilty of murder.
The defence says it was not murder but manslaughter.
"He went on stabbing this lady long after she was dead. That is
not the actions of a man who the Crown says was normal and not out
of control," said Judith Ablett-Kerr QC, defence counsel.
The defence says Weatherston was provoked.
"Once Sophie had launched herself at him, lunged at him with scissors, knocking his glasses of, there was no stopping him and it didn't matter that it made no sense," said Ablett-Kerr.
And it was common sense that Ablett-Kerr called for.
"What does your common sense tell you? Whether you want to believe it or not, this man is not normal."
Weatherston is an obsessive narcissist, according to his defence.
