22 Aug 2008

Killer warned about cannabis use before recall

12:58 pm on 22 August 2008

The Parole Board says a young convicted killer was warned about his cannabis use before being recalled to prison last month.

However, the board decided to release Bailey Junior Kurariki again on parole. His seven-year prison sentence for the manslaughter of an Auckland pizza delivery man, Michael Choy, expires next month.

Kurariki is New Zealand's youngest convicted killer.

He was paroled in May and taken back into custody in July under an interim recall.

He denied using cannabis on two occasions, once after being warned by his parole officer.

The board found his explanation for a positive drug test incredible, but considered that his cannabis use posed a low risk to the public.

It also took the week that Kurariki spent in custody on recall into account.