KEY POINTS:
One of New Zealand's youngest killers was freed from prison to attend a Maori rehabilitation course, but the decision was later rescinded after the Corrections Department realised young children would be attending.
Bailey Junior Kurariki, 18, is serving a seven-year jail sentence for the manslaughter of Auckland pizza deliverer Michael Choy who was beaten to death with a baseball bat in 2001.
Kurariki was one of five people who killed Mr Choy. He was 12 at the time.
The Dominion Post reported today that Kurariki, who is serving his sentence at Hawke's Bay Prison's Maori focus unit, was released to attend the Maori rehab programme. But Corrections recalled him after it realised young children would be attending.
The course began on Sunday on Rotorua's Mokoia Island, and was run by local Iwi, with children as young as nine attending.
Corrections Central regional manager Leanne Field said when Corrections approved prisoners' attendance it was unaware young children would be there.
Kurariki is due for release in September.
- NZPA
