A key witness to the murder of a Dunedin teenager says he told police the truth, despite being a "compulsive liar".
The police interview was played to the Dunedin High Court on Monday morning, where 32-year-old Venod Skantha is on trial for the murder of 16-year-old Amber-Rose Rush.
"I am a compulsive liar, I lie all the time," the teenage witness told police during one interview.
But he promised he was telling the truth when he recounted the events of the night Rush died.
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The teenager was best friends with the 32-year-old and allegedly drove him to her house on the night of the murder in February 2018.
The young man - who can't be identified - met Venod Skantha in mid-2017.
They hung out along with other young people, including Amber Rose-Rush.
He says "Vinny" phoned him on the night of Amber's death, asking him to drive him to her house.
The young man waited in the car while Skantha went inside.
He told police the doctor returned five minutes later, carrying the young girl's phone and a bloodied knife.
They drove to a remote location near Blackhead Quarry where Skantha tried to break the cellphone before throwing it away in a swamp.
The young man cleaned blood from the accused's BMW and his shoes, saying he was fearful of what Skantha might do next.
But he told police he deliberately left a blood spot on them as possible evidence.
He claims Skantha later described in detail how he'd killed Amber-Rose, saying, "I hope she's dead".
The next day in Balclutha, Skantha burned his bloodied clothes, along with Amber's license and phone case.
The young man says the doctor threatened to kill him and his family if he told anyone, but he contacted police later that weekend.
He's expected to continue giving evidence tomorrow.
Newshub.
