Young convicted killer 'too violent' for parole

The country's youngest convicted killer has been refused parole because of his violent behaviour in prison.

Bailey Junior Kurariki, 16, who at 13 was convicted of the 2001 killing of Auckland pizza deliverer Michael Choy, was described by the Parole Board this month as too dangerous to be freed.

He had been involved in 19 fights in Hawke's Bay prison in the past year.

"One of the major things that stands in his way is his conduct in the prison," said the board in a written decision, a Sunday newspaper reported today.

Kurariki's mother, Lorraine West, said her son's hand is "deformed", with swollen, misshapen knuckles from punching.

She said the fights were often over food.

Kurariki agreed at his parole hearing to try to last six months without misconduct, in return for which he would be transferred to a jail closer to his family in Otara.

Kurariki was sentenced to seven years' jail in 2002 for the manslaughter of Choy who was fatally beaten with a baseball bat.

Choy's mother, Rita Croskery, said Kurariki's violent record in prison showed he was not fit for release, the newspaper reported.

"The longer he stays in, the better his chance of rehabilitation. It's the best thing for public safety."

- NZPA