Raurimu killer 'no threat'

A killer living in Upper Hutt after his release from psychiatric care is not considered a threat to the community, the Ministry of Health says.

Stephen Anderson, 37, shot six people at his family's lodge at Raurimu in the central North Island on February 8, 1997.

Anderson is now living in Upper Hutt, the Sunday News reported yesterday.

The paranoid schizophrenic was found not guilty of the murders by reason of insanity and was locked up in full-time psychiatric care.

Anderson made his first short-term visit into the community a long time ago, said the Director of Mental Health, David Chaplow.

"He's been making these moves for some years now in a very careful and deliberate manner," Dr Chaplow told 3 News. "He would not be put into the community unless he was safe."

Dr Chaplow said getting Anderson back into the community under strict release conditions would help to rehabilitate him.

- NZPA