A jury has been selected in the trial of a former Dunedin doctor accused of murdering a teenage girl.
Venod Skantha pictured in court in May 2018. Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown
Venod Skantha, 32, is charged with murdering Amber-Rose Rush in her Corstorphine home in Dunedin last February.
The defendant, who who was working as a doctor at Dunedin Hospital at the time of the 16-year-old's death, is also facing four charges of threatening to kill.
Amber-Rose Rush Photo: Supplied
A jury of 10 men and two women will hear the case.
There was significant commentary on social media following Miss Rush's death and the subsequent death of her mother.
Justice Nation told potential jurors anyone posting about the case on social media needed to stand aside from jury duty.
"Not surprisingly a number of those posts were intensely emotional.
"On occasion some comments included statements that were factually incorrect. Others showed feelings of prejudice towards the defendant in this case."