The killer of Owaka schoolgirl Kylie Smith has failed in his first bid for parole in three years.
Paul Bailey is serving a life sentence for raping and murdering the 15-year-old in South Otago in 1991.
He was denied parole at hearings in 2003, 2007 and in 2010, when a postponement was imposed, which legally barred him from seeking release until now.
The Parole Board on Wednesday afternoon announced that Bailey would remain in jail as he continues to pose a risk to the community.
Bailey will next be eligible for parole in a year's time.