The trial of former Otago University research fellow Clayton Weatherston for the killing of his ex-girlfriend begins in the High Court at Christchurch today.
Weatherston (33) denies murdering 22-year-old Sophie Kate Elliott at her Ravensbourne home on January 9, 2008.
Miss Elliott, who had been in a relationship with Weatherston for several months in 2007, was stabbed or cut more than 200 times during an attack in her bedroom.
At the time of her death, she had been about to move to Wellington to take up a job with the Treasury.
The case was scheduled to start on Monday, but pre-trial legal argument resulted in a two-day delay.
A jury will be empanelled today for the trial, which is expected to take about three weeks and will be presided over by Justice Judith Potter, of Auckland.
