Bailey Junior Kurariki. Photo / David White
The country's youngest killer will remain behind bars for at least another month while authorities continue to grapple with issues surrounding his possible early release back into the community.
Bailey Junior Kurariki appeared before the Parole Board for a seventh time on Friday, with the hearing adjourned until
a date in April.
It is unclear why the hearing was adjourned, but it could be a result of difficulties over completing a residential restrictions report and detailed relapse prevention plan.
If Kurariki is released next month it could include an order that requires him to wear an electronic monitoring device to track his every movement.
Kurariki was 12 years and four months old when he was involved, along with five others, in the baseball bat killing of South Auckland pizza delivery man Michael Choy in September 2001.
Kurariki was found guilty of manslaughter and was sentenced to seven years in jail.
Choy's mother, Rita Croskery, again last week called for Kurariki to serve his entire sentence. Yesterday, she received support from Brian Brown, the father of murdered Tauranga woman Natasha Haydon and from Kevin McNeill, the son of Tokoroa teacher Lois Dear, who was murdered.
Brown said he had serious doubts Kurariki had rehabilitated himself sufficiently to the point of no longer being a threat to society.
He said victims such as himself would never forgive those who had committed such horrendous acts.
"You will never know Rita Croskery's grief and hurt, nor will you ever know the pain and grief we all go through daily, then we have to put up with Government-funded organisations trying to convince us that the community doesn't need to be protected from violent criminals."
McNeill told the Herald on Sunday he couldn't help but be sceptical about the chances of Kurariki reoffending.
"Call me cynical, but we've all been 19 years old, and we know how much living Kurariki will want to do. He will want to go hard 24/7."
