Parole Board wants fewer hearings for Mikus

The Parole Board wants to have less-frequent hearings for the man who raped and killed 6-year-old Teresa Cormack in 1987.

The board this week refused parole for Jules Mikus, who was convicted 10 years ago after DNA evidence linked him to the 1987 abduction, rape and murder. Teresa’s body was found in a shallow grave at Whirinaki Beach, north of Napier, a week after she went missing.

Mikus was convicted in 2002, but continues to protest his innocence.

He pushed for an appeal in 2008. It was turned down last year after no lawyers would take on the case and the Court of Appeal refused to appoint one.

Mikus was eligible for parole last month, but refused to appear before the board and the hearing went ahead without him.

In its decision released yesterday, panel convener Judge Sir David Carruthers said a psychol- ogist assessment found Mikus to have a ‘‘high risk’’ of reoffending.

Mikus intended to take a further appeal action, and his denial of guilt was seen as a barrier to any treatment, including a programme for child sex offenders which he was expected to attend next year.

‘‘His denial and his continued affirmation of his innocence is likely to be a block to any treatment,’’ Sir David said.

Mikus has an annual appointment with the board, but Sir David said it would look into whether he was eligible to be seen less frequently.

‘‘It is simply not sensible to continue to have annual meetings with Mr Mikus if nothing is changing.’’

The board can postpone consideration for parole for up to three years if it considers an offender will not be suitable for release at their next due date without ‘‘a significant change in the their circumstances’’.