When Animals Attack, Part 58

The Herald (On Sunday) has been creating news again.

The Herald and other media organisations have been hounding Bailey Junior Kurariki since he was released from prison, delighting in his every failure, all the time ensuring the mother of his victim Micheel Choy is on speed-dial, ready to give that damning quote.

And now this:

The country's youngest convicted killer is the subject of a new police complaint, accused of indecently assaulting two female journalists.

He is fresh from a one-month prison sentence after admitting wilfully damaging a television camera - the latest in a string of offences including assault.

Bailey Junior Kurariki was released from prison in May 2008 after being convicted of the manslaughter of pizza delivery man Michael Choy in 2002.

He was set strict conditions by the Parole Board after being released four months early, but police and the Department of Corrections have not been able to stop his repeated offending.

The new indecent assault claims follow a visit by two female Herald on Sunday journalists to Bailey Junior Kurariki's Auckland home on Thursday.

The employees, who the newspaper has chosen not to name, said the 20-year-old behaved in an erratic and distressing manner during the interview.

Statements record Kurariki exposed himself to the women, masturbated in front of them and groped them before they could escape the house.

Without for a moment wishing to excuse Kurariki's allegedly appalling behaviour, some tough questions need to be asked:

1. Given Kurariki's history (which includes violence towards women), why send two women to his house?
2. Whose decision was it to send the two women? Was it the reporter's decision? The editor's?
3. Should the news media be paying Rita Croskery for the inconvenience of always being on standby to give quotes about the killer of her son?
4. If you poke a stick at a wild animal numerous times and then get into its cage, should you be surprised when it turns on you?