3 Jul 2009

Juror discharged from former tutor's murder trial

4:18 pm on 3 July 2009

A jury member has been discharged from duty at the murder trial of former Otago University tutor Clayton Weatherston.

Mr Weatherston, 33, is accused of murdering his former girlfriend and student Sophie Elliott, 22 in Dunedin.

He denies murdering Miss Elliott, but has admitted her manslaughter.

The juror was taken to hospital on Thursday after collapsing in the jury room.

Despite being given a clean bill of health earlier, the juror failed to return to Christchurch High Court on Friday morning.

Justice Potter then officially discharged the juror, allowing the trial to continue with an 11-member jury.