‘Violent, gross’: Snowtown killer’s release blocked after shock twist
Snowtown serial killer James Vlassakis will remain in prison after his release on parole was overturned on appeal.
Vlassakis was the youngest of four men behind the gruesome “bodies in barrels” murders that shocked the country in the 1990s.
He was granted parole earlier this year, having served 26 years of his life sentence; However, the state government appealed the decision and it was overturned on Monday.
South Australian Attorney General Kyam Maher requested a review of the Parole Board’s decision to release Vlassakis, claiming that an error was made in granting parole.
Mr. Maher argued that the board “erred in deciding whether to release the prisoner on parole” and “failed to give due weight” to public safety.
In a decision released Monday, Parole Administrative Review Commissioner Michael David KC said the board underestimated the seriousness of Vlassakis’ crimes.
“These crimes were very poorly planned by everyone, they were violent, heinous and committed over a long period of time,” Mr David said.
“There were aspects of these crimes that could be described as disgustingly unusual.
“I find that the Parole Board underestimated the impact of the seriousness of Mr. Vlassakis’ criminal conduct.
“Given the seriousness of the offense described above and the fact that this is the first opportunity at which parole is available, I consider it would be a risk to society to release Mr Vlassakis at this relatively early stage.”
Vlassakis was 19 when he joined ringleaders John Bunting, Robert Wagner and Mark Haydon in violence that killed 12 people between 1992 and 1999.
He targeted those he deemed “undesirable”, including men, the disabled, homosexuals and alleged pedophiles, then tortured and killed them.
The remains of eight victims were discovered in 1999, sealed inside barrels filled with acid and hidden in the vault of a disused bank in the small town of Snowtown; It’s a discovery that horrified the country and cemented the case as one of Australia’s most notorious serial murders.
Vlassakis admitted to four murders, including that of his half-brother Troy Youde, and testified against Bunting and Wagner in exchange for a reduced parole term.
Their cooperation helped secure their convictions, and both men are serving life sentences without parole.
