Convicted murderer, Venod Skantha, died in prison yesterday soon after learning his appeal had been dismissed.
It is thought the 33-year-old, who was serving a life sentence for the murder of Dunedin teenager Amber-Rose Rush, died by suspected suicide.
Skantha, who is a former doctor, stabbed Amber-Rose Rush to death in February 2018 to stop her coming forward with claims of sexual assault, supplying minors with alcohol and offering money for sex.
Our Otago-Southland reporter, Timothy Brown, covered the case, and Skantha's subsequent trial.
