Judge refuses Kurariki's guilty plea

Bailey Kurariki. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Bailey Junior Kurariki has been stood down from a court appearance today after a judge refused to accept his guilty plea.

Kurariki, 21, one of New Zealand's youngest convicted killers, was back in Manukau District Court charged with assault, theft of a bicycle and resisting police.

Kurariki, who is in custody, represented himself after indicating he didn't want a lawyer.

He said he didn't steal the bicycle but that he wanted to plead guilty to help speed things along.

Judge Jonathan Moses would not accept the guilty plea once Kurariki said he didn't steal the bicycle.

Kurariki gave prolonged statements in his defence and at one point described himself as "an innocent black man".

Judge Moses stood Kurariki down after he continued to debate the issue.

Kurariki was convicted of manslaughter in 2002 for his role as a lookout in the killing of pizza delivery man Michael Choy.

Kurariki, 12 at the time of the killing, was released from jail in 2008.

- NZPA