The hidden shoe and the drop of blood
A grey shoe hidden in a garage an hour’s drive from a crime scene had on it a spot of blood from slain teen Amber-Rose Rush.
The shoe belonged to the man accused of her murder, 32-yearold Dunedin doctor Venod Skantha. None of Skantha’s DNA was found in 16-year-old AmberRose’s bedroom but the suede Giancarlo Moretti size 41 shoe pins him to the crime scene, the Crown alleges.
A key witness in the case, who gave evidence to the jury at the High Court in Dunedin earlier this week, said Skantha told him to clean the shoes but he left a spot of blood on one to help police.
The shoes were later recovered from a Balclutha garage, where the key witness and Skantha went to stay on the morning of February 3, 2018 – the day Amber-Rose was found dead in her bedroom.
Forensic scientist Rosalyn Rough told the court yesterday a spot of blood was found near the eyelet of the right shoe. It had ‘‘not been altered from washing’’.
Blood stains were detected on other parts of the shoe but appeared to be diluted.
The blood near the eyelet was elliptical – a droplet of blood – which Rough said had fallen on to the shoe. It could have fallen during the assault, when the blood was dispersed or cast off bloodstained hands, she said.
Rough confirmed DNA evidence from inside the shoe was likely to be from Skantha.
Amber-Rose died from stab wounds to the back of her head. She was likely killed face down and bled out on her bed.
Rough said she examined forensic items connected to AmberRose’s killing, including from her home, Skantha’s home, his silver BMW, and the Balclutha property of his former partner.
A summary pattern of blood from Amber-Rose’s bedroom showed ‘‘no sign of a struggle’’.
Rough tested samples of small bloodstains from inside the BMW’s passenger door and detected blood that may have come from Amber-Rose in the staining. It had possibly been flicked off an item or cast off hands, Rough said.
Traces of Amber-Rose’s blood were also found in a plastic bag, which the key witness alleged Skantha put his blood-soaked clothes into.
Under cross-examination, Rough told Jonathan Eaton QC
A key witness . . . said Venod Skantha told him to clean the shoes but he left a spot of blood on one to help police.
that no forensic material from Skantha was detected in AmberRose’s bedroom.
She was not asked to test the footpath where the key witness claimed Skantha tried to smash Amber-Rose’s blood-soaked phone before getting into his car.
She was not asked to test items in a washing machine in the garage at Skantha’s home either.
‘‘It is possibly an oversight,’’ she said. Rough did find traces of blood in Skantha’s garage, including DNA from Amber-Rose.
The Crown alleges Skantha murdered Amber-Rose on February 2, 2018, because he feared she would end his medical career by going to police and his work about his behaviour.
It has emerged during the trial that Skantha allegedly indecently assaulted Amber-Rose and offered her money for sex.
Skantha’s defence argues the doctor was not in Amber-Rose’s bedroom on the night of the assault. He denies killing the teen, as well as four charges of threatening to kill.
The trial continues.