The Murder Of Amber-Rose Rush
Amber-Rose Rush was a 16-year-old supermarket cashier from New Zealand, she was a talented artist who had dreams of becoming a police officer.
On 3rd February 2018, Amber-Rose's mother found Amber-Rose dead in her bedroom. Her brother, Jayden, recalled that he had knocked on her door at midnight but not had a response and assumed she was asleep. The police were called. The police drained a nearby swamp in which they found Amber-Rose's mobile phone. An autopsy found that she had died from stab wounds to her neck and throat.
The sole suspect was Venod Skantha, a person Amber-Rose had known. According to the court, Amber-Rose had argued with Skantha and threatened to report him to his employers for molesting teenagers, offering them money for sex and supplying them with alcohol. Skantha had asked a friend to drive him to Amber-Rose's home on the day of her death. The prosecution argued that Skantha had murdered Amber-Rose to prevent her from reporting him. Skantha was also found to have visited Amber-Rose's grieving mother and suggested the death had been a suicide before naming other potential suspects. Blood found on Skantha's shoes and car window were a match for Amber-Rose's. During the trial, Skantha wore earplugs during the victim impact statement read by Amber-Rose's mother.
Skantha was found guilty of murder and four counts of threatening to kill witnesses and their families. He was sentenced to life with a non-parole term of 19 years. Skantha died in custody of unknown but reportedly unsuspicious circumstances.
