‘Finally we can properly grieve’
As murderer dies in suspected jail suicide, victim’s father expresses relief and sadness
The shock death in jail of Dunedin murderer Venod Skantha has sparked calls for a court policy overhaul. The former doctor, who murdered Dunedin teenager Amber-Rose Rush in 2018, died in a suspected suicide at the Otago Corrections Facility, at Milburn, on Wednesday just hours after learning his appeal bid had been rejected.
The news came as a relief to Amber-Rose’s family, who said they could finally grieve.
But her father, Shane Rush, said it was sad for Skantha’s family.
“We feel sorry for his parents as they have now also lost a child, and no parent should ever have to go down that road.”
Skantha’s death has raised questions about how he was able to allegedly take his own life behind bars.
Otago Corrections Facility prison director Lyndal Miles said Skantha was advised of the Court of Appeal’s decision in a telephone call from a representative of his lawyer on Wednesday afternoon.
Corrections was unaware of the decision, and the Court did not routinely inform Corrections of decisions that did not have an impact on the length of a prisoner’s sentence.
When staff were made aware of information that had the potential to affect a prisoner’s wellbeing, their policy was to carry out an assessment of the person’s risk.
“Our thoughts are with the man’s family and friends. Other men in the unit and staff are being provided with support.”
Corrections Association president Alan Whitley said the courts should have to pass information about judgments to Corrections, so staff can provide support.
There have been multiple instances where inmates had learned of bad news and either attempted to take their own life, or successfully taken their own life, before staff became aware, he said.
“It’s really traumatic for staff. It’s one of the worst things you can deal with.”
Rush said it had been a hard, sad and emotional road for the family, one that felt like it would go on forever.
Now the family felt like they could finally grieve, for Amber-Rose and her mother Lisa Rush, who died suddenly four months after her daughter.
“It is hard to accept that her killer won’t have to pay the price for his crimes but it is a relief to the family not to have to spend more of our lives being tortured with appeals and parole hearings.”
He believed Skantha’s death was a sign of guilt and remorse.
The Crown’s star witness was a teenager who drove Skantha to the Corstorphine home where he killed Amber-Rose. He was vigorously cross-examined at trial as the defence attempted to cast him as the killer.
The teen, who has permanent name suppression, would not be drawn on how he felt about the prisoner’s death.
“I don’t really want to disclose anything at the moment,” he said yesterday.
All deaths in custody are referred to the coroner for investigation and determination of cause of death.
An investigation by the independent Corrections Inspectorate will also be carried out.
The Ministry of Justice and Minister of Corrections Kelvin Davis were unable to respond yesterday.