Sexual allegation murder motive

A sexual allegation against a Dunedin doctor was a possible motive in the murder of Amberrose Rush, a court has heard.

Venod Skantha, 32, denies killing 16-year-old Amber-rose, who was found on her blood-soaked bed on February 3 last year.

Lyndze Parrett, a former friend of the accused and victim, said she was told the teenager had woken at a party with Skantha’s hand down her pants, and with her top and bra removed.

The Crown alleges a threat to expose Skantha to his employer and police was his motive to kill.

Justice Gerald Nation told the jury of 10 men and two women to treat the allegation as hearsay.

Parrett said she met the pair through a mutual friend at Skantha’s home in late 2017. She recounted drinking at his home at a weekend-long ‘‘get together’’.

Parrett recalled meeting Amber-rose in early January – just weeks before her death – and she asked the teen if she was still talking with Skantha.

‘‘F... no,’’ she replied.

Parrett later asked Skantha about the sexual assault accusation, and he said he couldn’t remember anything about it.

The court also heard Skantha turned up to work under the influence of alcohol and lied about his mother’s death to escape being sacked.

Skantha was first employed by the DHB on May 24, 2016. He initially worked in Invercargill, before being transferred to Dunedin Hospital on May 22, 2017.

His employment as a house officer was soon in trouble. Skantha called in sick from Monday, July 3 to Wednesday, July 5.

On Wednesday, he said he would get a medical certificate and wanted to meet his supervisor the next day at the hospital, as his mother had passed away.

His supervisor told Skantha he was entitled to bereavement leave but instead Skantha went to

Dunedin Hospital on Wednesday at 2pm, with two support people.

After waiting for his supervisor he went to the orthopaedic ward, where he allegedly flushed an IV from a patient, dating it with the previous day. That patient described him as acting strangely, and asked him if it was normal saline he was using.

Skantha was allegedly under the influence of alcohol, claiming he had two beers at lunch, Southern District Health Board chief medical officer Dr Nigel Millar told the court. He said he was concerned and an independent lawyer investigated.

In his draft finding, Millar recommended Skantha’s employment be terminated. But Skantha, through his lawyer, argued he had been suffering from the unforeseen loss of his mother.

A final written warning was suggested, with Millar told the poor behaviour would not happen again.

Millar said he took into account those mitigating factors, and amended his preliminary decision based on Skantha losing his mother.

Millar told the court he did not investigate the death of Skantha’s mother, who was later revealed to be very much alive.

‘‘Had I known that this was not true, I would have stayed with my original position,’’ Millar said.

The trial continues.