Napier teenager's Mob killer denied parole

A man jailed for life for murdering Napier teenager Colleen Burrows in 1987 has been denied parole.

Mongrel Mob member Sam Te Hei became eligible for parole in 1997, but after a stabbing in prison - allegedly because a fellow inmate refused to take part in a gang initiation - he was sentenced to 12 years, Hawke's Bay Today reported.

But now in his mid-40s, Te Hei told the Parole Board he no longer had ties with the Mongrel Mob, although six of his brothers were still involved in the gang.

Colleen Burrows was 16 at the time of her death. She had been kidnapped, kicked and run over on a Napier riverbank after refusing to have sex with Te Hei and other gang members.

The Parole Board, after turning down the latest appeal, said Te Hei was being realistic about the time it would take to be fully rehabilitated.

He had told the board he no longer had dealings with the gang, although members of the board said he would face a difficult task proving that.

Te Hei had begun taking part in programmes to improve his literacy and had also enrolled in an intensive year-long anti-violence programme.

He is expected to appear before the board again next March.

- NZPA