Photo: Christine O'ConnerThe family of Dunedin teenager Amber-Rose Rush say they are relieved that her murderer, Venod Skantha, has died in a South Otago jail. Skantha's appeal against conviction for the 2018 murder of the 16-year-old and threatening to kill four other people was dismissed by the Court of Appeal yesterday. Brendon MacNee, the partner of Lisa Rush and stepfather of Amber-Rose, said today he is relieved by the news of Skantha's death, The New Zealand Herald reported. On hearing news of Skantha's death, MacNee said he wasn't surprised. In a statement today, Otago Corrections Facility prison director Lyndal Miles confirmed that Skantha died at the prison yesterday afternoon.

Source: Otago Daily Times April 14, 2021 21:33 UTC