New Zealand / Crime

Owaka schoolgirl murderer refused parole

18:33 pm on 24 March 2023

Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook

The man who raped and killed a South Otago teenager in 1991 has been refused parole while trying to get deported to the United Kingdom.

Paul David Bailey is serving a life sentence for murdering and raping 15-year-old Kylie Smith.

He has since been convicted of attempted rape and an additional rape charge of a teenage girl aged 12 to 16 from earlier separate incidents.

He was due to front the New Zealand Parole Board last month, but waived his appearance, advising he was seeking deportation rather than being released on parole in Aotearoa.

The board refused his parole, saying he remained assessed as at high risk of violent and sexual offending.

"This board continues to have concerns that Mr Bailey has not yet addressed his violence.

"We remain concerned about this when reading the information we have about the three lots of offending, including the rape and murder, the attempted rape and the sexual offending against a 12 to 16-year-old...

"Mr Bailey is continuing to display unstable behaviour and has no release proposal. We consider that there are still deficits in his treatment."

In 2015, he completed the Kia Marama Child Sex Offender Treatment Programme, but he did not graduate.

The board met with the victims before reaching their decision, describing their views as strongly opposing his release on parole.

"They describe him as manipulative and dangerous. They say that he has showed no remorse. His offending has had a huge impact on all of their lives and on the lives of their friends and family," the board said in their decision.

"They never want him to be released to live in the South Island. They have not seen any commitment to change from him.

"Finally, they do not have any confidence that he will comply with any conditions imposed if he is released on parole. He committed the murder and rape while on bail for the attempted rape."

Bailey attended one-to-one treatment with a psychologist last June and July, but the board said it appeared he has difficulty putting into practice what he has learnt at times.

He also recieved a positive drug test in June last year, and was found with a vape, tobacco and a sharpened object earlier this year.

"Mr Bailey's ongoing rule-breaking behaviour is of concern."

He was due to front the board again by January 2025 for consideration for parole and the making of a postponement order.

The Board has asked for an updated psychological report for that next hearing.