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| Snowtown murderer granted parole after decades in jail for South Australia’s ‘bodies in the barrels’ serial killings | Snowtown murderer granted parole after decades in jail for South Australia’s ‘bodies in the barrels’ serial killings |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| James Vlassakis, the youngest of four men convicted over the serial killings, was found guilty of being involved in four of 11 murders between 1992 and 1999 | James Vlassakis, the youngest of four men convicted over the serial killings, was found guilty of being involved in four of 11 murders between 1992 and 1999 |
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| The youngest of the four men convicted over South Australia’s “bodies in the barrels” serial killings has been granted parole. | The youngest of the four men convicted over South Australia’s “bodies in the barrels” serial killings has been granted parole. |
| James Vlassakis has spent 26 years behind bars after being found guilty of being involved in four of the 11 murders between 1992 and 1999. | James Vlassakis has spent 26 years behind bars after being found guilty of being involved in four of the 11 murders between 1992 and 1999. |
| At its monthly meeting on Tuesday, the SA Parole Board approved his application to serve the remainder of his life sentence under conditions in the community. | At its monthly meeting on Tuesday, the SA Parole Board approved his application to serve the remainder of his life sentence under conditions in the community. |
| The parole board chief, Frances Nelson, said Vlassakis “does not represent a risk to the community” and would be sent to the Adelaide pre-release centre for up to 12 months and undergo a resocialisation process. | The parole board chief, Frances Nelson, said Vlassakis “does not represent a risk to the community” and would be sent to the Adelaide pre-release centre for up to 12 months and undergo a resocialisation process. |
| In May 1999, police found dismembered bodies in barrels filled with hydrochloric acid in the old bank building in Snowtown. | |
| John Justin Bunting, Robert Joe Wagner and James Spyridon Vlassakis were convicted over the murders, and Mark Ray Haydon was convicted for helping to cover up the crimes. | |
| Vlassakis was 19 when he committed the crimes and was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 26 years, which expires in August 2025. | Vlassakis was 19 when he committed the crimes and was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 26 years, which expires in August 2025. |
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| Nelson said she was “sure that the victims feel he has been insufficiently punished”. | Nelson said she was “sure that the victims feel he has been insufficiently punished”. |
| “That’s quite common for victims to feel that way, but that’s not our role,” she said. | “That’s quite common for victims to feel that way, but that’s not our role,” she said. |
| “Sentencing and punishment is a matter for a judge, not for a parole board, and the legislation prevents us from imposing our own view on sentence, so our role is simply to assess whether he fulfils the legislative criteria for parole.” | “Sentencing and punishment is a matter for a judge, not for a parole board, and the legislation prevents us from imposing our own view on sentence, so our role is simply to assess whether he fulfils the legislative criteria for parole.” |
| Haydon, 66, was released on parole in May 2024 to live in the community under strict supervision. | |
| Vlassakis was also a key prosecution witness against Bunting and Wagner. Both are serving life sentences with no chance of parole. | |
| Vlassakis would be moved to the pre-release centre “provided there is no request to review our decision”, Nelson said. | Vlassakis would be moved to the pre-release centre “provided there is no request to review our decision”, Nelson said. |
| “There is a 60-day period which would enable either the attorney general or the commissioner for victims rights or the police commissioner to apply for a review,” she said. | “There is a 60-day period which would enable either the attorney general or the commissioner for victims rights or the police commissioner to apply for a review,” she said. |
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| The commissioner for victims’ rights, Sarah Quick, said the decision would “understandably bring fresh pain and anger to those who have already suffered beyond measure”. | |
| “These individuals are not only worn down by their trauma, but also by the ongoing criminal justice processes,” she said. | “These individuals are not only worn down by their trauma, but also by the ongoing criminal justice processes,” she said. |
| “The prospect of Mr Vlassakis re-entering the community is a difficult reality for the victims and will require a significant emotional adjustment, adding to an already unbearable burden. | “The prospect of Mr Vlassakis re-entering the community is a difficult reality for the victims and will require a significant emotional adjustment, adding to an already unbearable burden. |
| “We must never forget that – for the friends, family and loved ones of murder victims – the impact of the killing does not end simply because a prison term has ended. It is something they live with every day for the rest of their lives.” | “We must never forget that – for the friends, family and loved ones of murder victims – the impact of the killing does not end simply because a prison term has ended. It is something they live with every day for the rest of their lives.” |
| A suppression order on images of Vlassakis remains in effect, and there has been a high level of secrecy regarding his imprisonment. | A suppression order on images of Vlassakis remains in effect, and there has been a high level of secrecy regarding his imprisonment. |
| In July, Haydon appeared in the South Australian supreme court, where an application for an extended supervision order for a high-risk offender was approved, and most of the conditions of an interim order imposed in 2024 were confirmed. | In July, Haydon appeared in the South Australian supreme court, where an application for an extended supervision order for a high-risk offender was approved, and most of the conditions of an interim order imposed in 2024 were confirmed. |
| He spent 25 years in jail for his role as an accessory in the murder spree. | He spent 25 years in jail for his role as an accessory in the murder spree. |