KEY POINTS:
The country's youngest killer will stay in prison after failing in bid to be released early on parole.
The Parole Board said today Bailey Junior Kurariki, now 18, was still a high risk, and refused his application to be released ahead of his release date of September next
year.
"If he was released now there was more than a likelihood of further offending, the nature and seriousness of which would pose an undue risk or disproportioned (sic) risk to the safety of the community," the board said.
Kurariki was 12 when he was convicted of the manslaughter of Auckland pizza deliverer Michael Choy who was beaten to death with a baseball bat in 2001.
He was sentenced to seven years' jail.
Michael Choy's mother, Rita Croskery, said she was delighted Kurariki had been denied parole.
She said he was not ready to be let out and the community needed to be protected.
"I think he will be so dangerous."
Mrs Croskery said she even doubted he would be ready to integrate into society in September next year.
"He has got a brilliant smile. You wouldn't think he was dangerous. He doesn't look dangerous but those are the worst kind, with all the cunning and con he can put across people."
She said he was trying to improve his behaviour because he wanted to be released from prison.
"I don't know if he is pulling the wool over everybody's eyes but he has got into the church."
Kurariki had first offended when he was eight and breaking the law was "inbred in him".
She said she would be at his next parole hearing in January next year to again oppose his early release.
The board said Kurariki's lawyer had told the parole hearing Kurariki had a greater understanding of what parole involved and he was willing to comply with any conditions set.
He was looking forward to new church friends helping him on his release and he had a job to go to.
The board said while he had made some improvement, it was not satisfied that the risk level meant he could be released.
"He has recently been psychologically assessed as being at very high risk of general and violent re-offending.
"It is said by the psychologist also that that risk level will remain until Mr Kurariki has demonstrated behaviour across settings and over time that warrants a reduction in that risk rating."
The board said in the public interest there was a need for a strong focus on re-integrating him into society.
- NZPA