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Home / New Zealand

Amber-Rose Rush murder trial: Medical Council investigating Venod Skantha

RNZ
27 Nov, 2019 09:13 PM3 mins to read

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Focus Live: Verdict in Amber-Rose Rush Murder Trial. Video / Will Trafford

By RNZ

Venod Skantha was yesterday found guilty of stabbing Miss Rush to death in her bed in February last year.

He was also convicted of four counts of threatening to kill, relating to the prosecution's key witness and his family.

The jury only needed three hours to unanimously find him guilty on all counts.

Amber-Rose Rush was murdered in February 2018. Photo / File
Amber-Rose Rush was murdered in February 2018. Photo / File
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Skantha was arrested and charged with the crime on 4 February last year. At the time he was working as a junior house doctor at Dunedin Hospital.

His practising certificate was withdrawn by the Medical Council 24 days after his arrest.

Medical Council chief executive Joan Simeon said a professional conduct committee was established to investigate the allegations against Skantha.

"The Medical Council took the allegations very seriously and stopped Dr Skantha from practising as soon as possible," Ms Simeon said.

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"The professional conduct committee investigation was placed on hold pending the outcome of the criminal trial. The professional conduct committee will resume its investigation immediately.

"An option available to the professional conduct committee is to file a charge in the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal. If Dr Skantha is found to have been convicted of an offence which reflects adversely on his fitness to practise, the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal may cancel Dr Skantha's registration."

She extended the council's deepest sympathies to the family of Miss Rush.

The High Court heard Skantha's motive for killing Miss Rush was to save his job at Dunedin Hospital.

Discover more

New Zealand|crime

Amber-Rose: Fearless and not afraid to stick up for the underdog

27 Nov 04:00 PM
New Zealand|crime

Amber-Rose Rush: Was she murdered to save doctor's career?

26 Nov 05:03 PM
New Zealand|crime

Whoever stabbed Amber-Rose 'intended to kill her' - judge

26 Nov 10:43 PM
New Zealand|crime

Amber-Rose Rush murder trial: Jury deliberates into evening

27 Nov 01:40 AM
Skantha was convicted of murder. Photo / Christine O'Connor
Skantha was convicted of murder. Photo / Christine O'Connor

She told him she was serious about going to the police and his employer with claims he was "touching up" minors without consent, supplying them alcohol and offering money for sex.

READ MORE:
• Dunedin doctor Venod Skantha found guilty of murder of Amber-Rose Rush
• Dunedin doctor trial: Did Venod Skantha murder Amber-Rose Rush to save his career?
• Amber-Rose Rush: Venod Skantha's out-of-control life that spiralled into murder
• Amber-Rose Rush told friend Venod Skantha molested her, court hears

On 2 February, 2018, the pair shared a terse back-and-forth via a messenger service on social media with Miss Rush ending the exchange with "you know what you were doing when you did it. For that you deserve everything you're gonna get".

Half an hour later she was stabbed to death in her bed.

Shane Rush speaks after a jury in the High Court at Dunedin this afternoon unanimously found Venod Skantha was responsible for the murder of 16-year-old Amber-Rose Rush. Photo / Peter McIntosh
Shane Rush speaks after a jury in the High Court at Dunedin this afternoon unanimously found Venod Skantha was responsible for the murder of 16-year-old Amber-Rose Rush. Photo / Peter McIntosh

The court heard how Skantha was already on thin ice at work after showing up in July 2017 while off-duty and after drinking, and treating a patient.

Just minutes before her death, Amber-Rose confirmed she was serious about taking her complaints to police and Skantha's superiors at Dunedin Hospital. Photo / File
Just minutes before her death, Amber-Rose confirmed she was serious about taking her complaints to police and Skantha's superiors at Dunedin Hospital. Photo / File

He only saved his job on that occasion by lying about his mother's death.

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Skantha will be sentenced for his crimes on March 6.

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