Seven years for Bailey Junior as Choy killers sentenced

5.30pm

Thirteen-year-old Bailey Junior Kurariki, the country's youngest convicted killer has been sentenced to seven years in prison for the manslaughter of pizza delivery worker Michael Choy.

Kurariki was one of six teenagers convicted of killing Mr Choy to be sentenced in the High Court at Auckland this afternoon.

Mr Choy, 40, was lured to a South Auckland address a year ago and bashed to death with a baseball bat before being robbed of his pizzas and cash.

Alexander Tokorua Peihopa, 16, was today sentenced to life in prison for murder, five years for aggravated robbery, three years for attempted robbery and 2-1/2 years for theft when he appeared before Justice Robert Fisher.

His sentences and those of the other five teenagers convicted over the killing were to be served concurrently.

Whatarangi Rawiri, 17, was also jailed for life for murder. She was sentenced to six years for aggravated robbery and four for attempted aggravated robbery.

Phillip Kaukasi, 17, was jailed for 12 years for manslaughter, seven for aggravated robbery and four for attempted aggravated robbery.

Riki Rapira, 16, was sentenced to nine years in jail for manslaughter, six for aggravated robbery.

Joe Kaukasi, 15, was jailed for 8-1/2 years for manslaughter and six years for aggravated robbery.

A seventh defendant, Casie Rawiri, 21, was jailed for 2-1/2 years for theft and 4-1/2 for attempted aggravated robbery, the sentences to be served concurrently.

In sentencing the group, Justice Fisher said the aggravating features common to all the defendants included the use of violence as a deliberate part of the plan to rob Mr Choy, the high level of premeditation, the acting as a group against a lone victim, the vulnerable occupation of their victim and the callous failure to seek medical assistance or other help for Mr Choy.

- NZPA