NZ's youngest killer back in prison

Bailey Junior Kurariki is back in court. Photo / Janna Dixon

One of the country's youngest killers will miss a mental health appointment today because he is back behind bars.

Bailey Junior Kurariki, 21, was only 12 when he took part in the killing of pizza delivery man Michael Choy in 2001. He was convicted of manslaughter and released in 2008.

Yesterday he was refused bail and remanded in custody on charges of assault, theft and resisting police, over incidents earlier this month, the Dominion Post reported.

In the Manukau District Court his lawyer John Robertson asked for him to be released on bail so he could attend appointments for mental health treatment.

Last month he faced charges of assaulting a female, assault, intentionally damaging the female's front door and behaving in a manner likely to cause violence.

Those charges were laid shortly after he was released from prison after serving eight months of an 11-month sentence for indecent assault on two women journalists.

Judge Ajit Singh said he agreed with police that Kurariki was a risk of reoffending while on bail.

He said Kurariki could get psychiatric help in prison.

- NZPA