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New Zealand's youngest convicted killer,Bailey Kurariki, is to be released from jail after spending more than six years behind bars.
Kurariki was granted parole after three hearings, dating back to January 25 this year.
Under the conditions of his release he will be electronically monitored and have to remain at an undisclosed location for 24 hours a day. He will undergo weekly psychological treatment and will be mentored by a Kaumatua, who has experience in prisoner rehabilitation. He cannot use drugs or alcohol, cannot contact any victims and cannot talk to media.
At just 12 years old Kurariki took part in a premeditated attack on 40-year-old Pizza delivery man, Michael Choy.
Choy was lured to a South Auckland address where he was bashed with a baseball bat and left for dead. Kurariki has served nearly seven years for his part in the murder.
Since 2004 Kurariki has been turned down for parole three times, including twice in 2007. At his last parole hearing in July last year the parole board said Kurariki "has recently been psychologically assessed as being at very high risk of general and violent re-offending".
This time around, with just five months to serve, the Parole Board believes:
"That releasing the offender now into the proposed accommodation under residential restrictions, with the support he will have from his family, the supervision of his family and CPS and his Mäori Service Provider, and the programmes which will be put in place by way of special release conditions will not pose an undue risk to the safety of the community."
Further to that the Board says a gradual and structured re-integration into society will be more likely to protect the safety of the community than if Kurariki was released at the end of his sentence in September.
Kurariki will be released in May but the Parole Board has reserved the right to call him back to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence.
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