Rita Croskery said changes to the country's parole laws were urgently needed.
Describing her son's death and events leading to Graeme Burton's killing while on parole as ‘‘fiascos'', Mrs Croskery said she wanted the system changed so criminals did not come up for parole until they had served their full sentence.
Once parole started, those deemed a high risk could then be monitored, she said.
‘‘We do not want another tragedy such as ours. Public safety is paramount.''
Mr Choy was bashed to death in South Auckland by a group of youths, including 12-year-old Bailey Junior Kurariki, in September 2001.
Kurariki was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to seven years' jail. He is due to be released on September 16.
Mrs Croskery and her husband, Ken, Michael Choy's stepfather, said their lives had been hell since Michael's death.
The couple would not attend a parole board hearing today, for Kurariki. Instead, they wanted to focus on changing legislation, Mrs Croskery said.
‘‘The justice system is failing us. Our politicians are not listening, we need to change the laws.''
Mrs Croskery said the Parole Board and police did the best they could, but were only able to work within the legislation, which was ultimately flawed.
‘‘Some of these prisoners . . . you can tell they are nowhere near being ready to be released on parole.
‘‘I would like to see legislation . . . they can be monitored by some sort of electronic device.''
Mrs Croskery said she had made a submission at the last parole board hearing for Kurariki, two months ago in Hastings, that he be electronically monitored.
‘‘And that's why they had to postpone the hearing.''
Sensible Sentencing Trust spokesman Garth McVicar said a big shift in legislation was not needed to achieve electronic monitoring.
Parole boards had the power to release offenders with conditions already, he said.
‘‘It's only a shift in legislation to say one of those conditions would be electronic monitoring of the offender,'' Mr McVicar said.
The Croskerys were pushing for the safety of society, he said. - The New Zealand Herald
