Schoolgirl murderer 'Ziggy Stardust' refused parole

Ziggy Stardust Buckeridge is awaiting a place in a prison programme.

A man who murdered a North Canterbury teenager has been denied an early release from prison, but the Parole Board said it may support him being allowed out temporarily to work.

Ziggy Stardust Buckeridge, 55, is serving life in prison for the 1992 murder or Rangiora teenager Julie Sands.

He was 30 when he murdered Julie, 14, and buried her in a shallow grave on Anzac Day.

After she was reported missing Buckeridge helped in the search for her, before confessing and taking police to her crude grave, which he had covered in rubbish and an old car bonnet.

Buckeridge has been released on parole twice in the past - in 2005 and 2011.

Both times he was recalled to prison for breaching his release conditions.

He appeared before the Parole Board again in May.

A parole report obtained by the Herald reveals Buckeridge has been working "outside the wire" of his prison.

"He is said to have an excellent work ethic," the report said.

"He has not incurred any misconducts since 2013 and holds a minimum security classification."

Buckeridge has been assessed as posing a medium to high risk of sexual and or violent re-offending.

Buckeridge is awaiting a place in a prison programme and a report presented by the board earlier said he "might be suitable for release to work" but his prospective employer later deemed that "his profile is too high" and is not prepared to employ him "at this stage".

The killer told the board that while on parole in the past "he was undone by alcohol".

"..and that this time he would commit to being abstinent, if that were one of his conditions," the report said.

"He said that he abides by conditions, and has not been subject to such a condition before."

The board supported Buckeridge's "participation in temporary releases" if the Prison Advisory Board approved his plan.

But it said it could not release him.

"Parole is declined today," the board said.

"Mr Buckeridge's next hearing will be during the week beginning 25 September.'

It said if he were declined entry into the programme he wanted to complete, it would "support his involvement in release to work if available or, if necessary, at another prison".