Three decades for rape and Colleen Burrows murder not long enough, says Sensible Sentencing Trust

The man who raped and murdered 16-year-old Colleen Burrows (pictured) has been paroled from prison after serving 30 years behind bars. Photo / File

Sam Te Hei served 30 years behind bars for the rape and murder of Napier teenager Colleen Burrows but it isn't long enough, Sensible Sentencing Trust founder Garth McVicar says.

Te Hei, who was serving a life sentence for the 16-year-old's rape and murder in 1987, has been paroled from prison and will be released in April this year.

Burrows' body was found on a riverbank on the outskirts of Napier on the morning of June 19 after she had been raped and murdered at a gang pad the day before by Te Hei and other Mongrel Mob associates.

Te Hei and his brother, Warren, were also involved in a vicious attack on a fellow inmate in Auckland Men's Prison, after which he was sentenced to a finite term of 12 years' imprisonment for attempted murder.

McVicar said he was appalled to hear of the Parole Board's decision to release the man and found its details concerning.

"It's very hard to see how someone goes from where he was to where he is now in one year.

"He's also refusing to have his Mongrel Mob tattoos on his hands removed and won't end his affiliations with the gang.

"It's hugely concerning."

Te Hei, now aged 55, will be released under a range of special conditions which include not to associate with his victims, his brother Warren, gangs or gang members and not to enter the Hawke's Bay region.

The parole report noted Te Hei acknowledged he continued to have Mongrel Mob affiliations and was probably a lifetime member.

"However, he does not want to associate with gang members in the community, as he recognises that that is another high-risk situation for him.

"He says that he wants to make changes from his previous violent lifestyle for the sake of his grandchildren," the report read.

Te Hei also planned on having his heavy facial tattoos lasered but was "less sure" about the tattoos on his hands.

Garth McVicar, founder of the Sensible Sentencing Trust. Photo / File

"As they clearly identify him as a Mongrel Mob member, he needs to think carefully about having those removed too, if he truly wants to distance himself from that gang."

The Parole Board acknowledged Te Hei had taken a long time to address the causes of his offending but that over the years his risk of reoffending had "reduced remarkably".

"In all the circumstances, we are satisfied that Mr Te Hei's risk of reoffending can be managed in the community to the point where it is not undue, provided he complies with the conditions which we will impose."

The report noted Burrows' mother, Ida Hawkins, opposed Te Hei's release and McVicar said this was a point of concern for him.

"It's hugely concerning from our perspective having dealt with Colleen's mother and the wider family; seeing the effect it's had on them.

"I think it's time as a society and as a nation that we put the care and wellbeing of the victims well ahead of those of the offender.

"He had a choice, he made a number of wrong choices in his life.

"Colleen had no choice and Ida's got to deal with the consequences of Te Hei's actions."

Three decades behind bars wasn't long enough for Te Hei, Mr McVicar said.

"Is 30 years long enough? No, I don't think it is for the type of offence he has committed and the type of person he obviously was to lead up to that offence and go on to reoffend in prison as well.

"I don't think it's long enough."

In 2000, Te Hei was one of nine prisoners awarded compensation collectively totalling more than $300,000 for ill-treatment at the hands of prison officers.