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Archived Press Releases 2002 December 8th

Parole Board Makes History

(8th December 2002)

Congratulations to the Parole Board for the humane and sensitive way they treated the family, supporters and protesters at the recent Parole hearing for one of New Zealand's most horrific killers, said National Spokesperson for the Sensible Sentencing Trust.

Paul Bailey raped and murdered 16-year-old Owaka schoolgirl Kylie Smith on 1st November 1991, Bailey's second parole hearing was in Christchurch on 5th December.

In a history making decision the Parole Board allowed the Sensible Sentencing Trust protesters to sit in on the hearing, this alone is breaking new ground, but the Board went further and invited comment from the Trust members attending, this humanises proceedings and gives us confidence for the future, said Mr McVicar

While the decision of the Board has not yet been made public the treatment of Kylies family and supporters gives us hope that finally the Parole Board are humanising the hearings and listening to the concerns of the public.

Sensible Sentencing Trust believe that an offender who commits premeditated aggravated murder should never be released from prison, most have offended before and there can be no guarantee they will not offend again. Offenders while on Parole have committed many of New Zealand's more horrific crimes.

The risk to the community is so great that we believe Parole is not an option for a convicted rapist and brutal killer such as Bailey.

Under new Parole Legislation introduced in July the Board can defer future parole sittings for up to three years, while we believe this goes nowhere near far enough it does save the Victims family the agony of facing yearly hearings. Under the 2002 Parole Act the "paramount consideration in every case is the safety of the community".

Hopefully the Board will use the full extent of the Law and the power vested in them when considering their decision. While nothing can bring Kylie back, her family deserve what little peace of mind and reprieve that the Parole Board can give by ensuring they do not face annual parole hearings. Bailey had a choice; he gave 16-year-old Kylie none.

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.