Bailey Junior Kurariki. Photo / David White
The Parole Board is expected to make a decision this afternoon on whether the country's youngest convicted killer will be released back into the community.
Bailey Junior Kurariki will face the board after spending seven years in prison for the manslaughter of pizza delivery man Michael Choy.
Mr
Choy was bashed to death in South Auckland by a group of youths, including Kurariki, then aged 12, in September 2001.
Kurariki is due to be released on September 16.
Parole Board spokeswoman Sonja de Friez told NZPA the hearing today was a continuation of a hearing in January .
It was adjourned so the board could get a residential restrictions or home detention report.
"They're now seeing him again, considering all the information they had before them in January, including the residential restrictions report and they'll make the decision this afternoon."
Included in the information considered by the board were victims' submissions that were given in January.
She said Mr Choy's mother, Rita Croskery, had given her submission in person to the board.
Ms de Friez said the board would make its decision based on the safety to the community.
On Wednesday Mrs Croskery called for legislation to enforce electronic monitoring of some offenders released on parole.
"We do not want another tragedy such as ours. Public safety is paramount."
Mrs Croskery said the Parole Board and police did the best they could but were only able to work within the legislation which was ultimately flawed.
"Some of these prisoners...you can tell they are nowhere near being ready to be released on parole.
"I would like to see legislation...they can be monitored by some sort of electronic device."
But Ms de Friez said there had been a "misunderstanding" about the use of electronic monitoring as the board uses it often on offenders.
She said the board could reserve its decision, but it was hoped it would be released by Monday at the latest.
- NZPA
