Warning: This article contains details which may distress some readers.
The family of a murdered Dunedin teenager have described the horrendous night they found her dead in her bed.
Amber Rose Rush was only 16 years old was she was murdered in her Corstorphine home in February 2018.
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Vanod Skantha, a 32-year-old Dunedin doctor, is accused of breaking into her home using a hidden key and slitting her throat while she slept.
Amber's brother Jayden told the court he arrived home from work on February 2 to find the usually hidden spare key in the front door.
When he went to knock on his sister's door to tell her off, there was no answer. A short time later, Jayden heard his mother screaming from Amber's room.
Lisa Ann Rush had opened Amber's door to let the family dog out.
On the floor, there was a patch of blood. Amber lay in her bed, her head covered by pillows, with blood seeping onto her bed sheets.
Near the light switch was a bloody hand print. The house broke into chaos, with Lisa Ann screaming as Jayden tried to phone emergency services.
A neighbour overheard the cries and came to try and help Jayden lift his sister into the recovery position but her body was too stiff.
Jayden and his stepfather Brandon MacNee searched the room for anything which could offer a clue, but there was no trace of a weapon.
The court alleges Skantha broke into the home and murdered Amber to protect his career.
The doctor was on his final warning for serious misconduct, and Amber had threatened to go to police about his interactions with minors.
Texts between the pair show Amber accusing Skantha of offering her money for sex, inappropriately touching her and supplying minors with drugs and alcohol.
Skantha also faces four other charges of threatening to kill.
He has pleaded not guilty for all five charges.
The trial continues.
Newshub.
