No Parole For Kurariki

Wednesday 21 Jan 2004 Dr Muriel Newman Press Releases -- Crime & Justice

Bailey Jnr Kurariki should not be released back into the community - whether on home detention or parole - until he has spent enough time in our youth justice system to ensure he will never offend again, ACT New Zealand Police Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman said today.

"The public deserves an assurance that this young man's life prospects have been completely turned around - serving one third of a seven-year sentence certainly does not provide that," Dr Newman said.

"The public also deserves to know that the justice system properly protects law-abiding citizens, and fully punishes offenders. That is why ACT believes parole should be abolished, and offenders made to serve their full court-imposed sentences.

"Bailey Kurariki is a poster-child for a dysfunctional upbringing, who committed a horrendous crime. Those professionals responsible for his custodial care must be able to guarantee that his life prospects have been completely turned around before he is released.

"Realistically, the time between his sentencing and this parole hearing is too short for this to be the case. The courts decided that Kurariki was to spend seven years in youth justice facilities - to release him after only a third of that would be irresponsible, and an insult to the community and his victims' family.

"A message must be sent that killing someone is the most serious of crimes, and carries with it the most serious of consequences. Releasing Kurariki back into the community so soon would simply send a signal that murder is something that society is prepared to condone," Dr Newman said.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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