20 Feb 2018

Fresh charges against doctor murder-accused

9:48 am on 20 February 2018

Fresh charges have been laid against the doctor accused of murdering Dunedin teen Amber-Rose Rush.

Amber-Rose Rush.

Amber-Rose Rush. Photo: Supplied

Four charges of threatening to kill have been laid against the 30-year-old man, who today kept interim name suppression when he appeared in the Dunedin High Court.

The doctor is accused of murdering Ms Rush, 16, on 2 February.

The new charges relate to an incident in Balclutha the following day.

Defence lawyer, Marie Taylor-Cyphers, indicated her client would plead not guilty to the charge of murder. However, the judge did not accept that plea today as he said it could be entered formally at his next appearance.

It was revealed the murder accused is facing another charge, that of unlawfully being in a building.

The man was remanded in custody to reappear on 6 March, when name suppression and bail will be discussed.

The accused stood near the public gallery during his brief appearance and some members of the public threatened him as he was led from the dock.