Pending parole angers family

Bruce Emery. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

One year and one month ago, Bruce Emery was jailed for chasing down a teenage tagger and stabbing him to death. This week, the Parole Board will decide whether to free him.

Emery's wife and children still live in the same neighbourhood as the family of Pihema Clifford Cameron, the 15-year-old he killed.

Days before the parole hearing, Pihema's mother has spoken of her disgust that a "kid killer" could be released so soon. "He took someone's life," Leanne Cameron said. "What's to stop him from taking someone else's?"

Pihema died on January 26, 2008, after he was stabbed in the chest by Emery, who was a 50-year-old Manurewa businessman.

Emery caught Pihema and a 16-year-old friend tagging the garage door at his Manurewa house. Armed with a kitchen knife the father-of-three chased the pair for more than 300m and confronted them.

The teenager died within minutes.

Emery pleaded not guilty to murder, claiming self-defence.

He was found guilty of manslaughter in December 2008. In February 2009 he was jailed for four years and three months.

A Parole Board spokeswoman confirmed Emery would appear at a hearing this week. She would not be drawn on the specific time and place. His lawyer Chris Comesky did not return calls.

Cameron told the Herald on Sunday she would not attend the hearing, but said Pihema's father and other relatives might.

"There's not a lot I can do about it. I can't fight the Parole Board - would that even make a difference," she said.

Emery's Indonesian-born wife Sotju will attend the hearing and take the couple's three teenage daughters.

Sotju said yesterday her husband was "not too bad".

"But he is so-so ... he is looking forward to coming home."

Sotju was reluctant to comment on whether the family would stay in the area if Emery was released.

But Cameron doubted Emery would be safe if he returned there.

"I have a funny feeling there could be repercussions if he does come out so soon. Heaps of my family wanted to get jail themselves to get in there and beat the crap out of him.

"I said 'don't be so stupid'. The anger is still there, very much so ... they are adults and they can make their own decisions. I'm staying out of it. I've got to raise the kids I have left."

She said the thought of Emery being released early made her physically sick every day. "When he gets out he gets to go back to his home, be with his wife and kids and go back to their life. He's got his life."

Cameron moved to Australia with her two daughters and adopted son after Pihema's death.

"I couldn't handle it. I couldn't be there any more. I couldn't stand anything or anyone. I knew I was losing the rest of my kids, losing them because I didn't want to be around them. I wanted to be by my son and leave the other kids with their father."

She said she was not coping but was taking things day by day. "I just can't be happy. He's not here and we know it every day and feel it every day."

She said her two daughters were still struggling over Pihema's death.

Cameron has had no contact from Emery or his family - and although she harbours no anger towards his wife and daughters, she wants nothing from them.

"I would probably turn him down if he ever tried to give his explanation, because he's a coward to me.

"I would never forget that he took a kid's life for nothing. There is no forgiveness."