“Evil” Snowtown Serial Killer James Vlassakis to Rot in Jail: Attorney-General Intervenes to Block Parole After Chilling Review
- Vlassakis, now in his mid-40s, was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the notorious “bodies-in-the-barrels” serial killings
- The South Australian Parole Board’s decision to release him was overturned after the Attorney-General raised concerns about the safety of the community
- Vlassakis had served 26 years of his sentence, but the Parole Administrative Review Commissioner deemed him a risk to the community
In a dramatic turnaround, the South Australian Parole Board’s decision to release Snowtown serial killer James Vlassakis has been sensationally overturned, ensuring the 45-year-old will remain behind bars. The move comes after Attorney-General Kyam Maher requested a review of the decision, citing concerns about the safety of the community.
In a scathing assessment, Parole Administrative Review Commissioner Michael David KC concluded that releasing Vlassakis would pose a risk to the community, given the gravity of his offending. “These offences were very evilly premeditated by everyone, they were violent, gross, and committed over a substantial period of time,” Mr David wrote in his statement.
Vlassakis, who was granted parole in August after serving 26 years of his life sentence, was held responsible for the murder of four victims of the “bodies-in-the-barrels” serial killings in the 1990s. His role in the heinous crimes, which claimed the lives of 12 people between 1992 and 1999, earned him a life sentence with a non-parole period of 26 years.
In arguing against Vlassakis’s release, Mr Maher contended that the Parole Board had “failed to give proper weight to” the safety of the community, the likelihood of the prisoner complying with parole conditions, and the circumstances and gravity of the offence.
Commissioner David ultimately agreed, stating that Vlassakis’s behaviour behind bars, including a limited nine hours of intervention in a modified program, was insufficient to guarantee the safety of the community. While Vlassakis’s lawyer, Ms Lindy Powell KC, proposed a 12-month rehabilitation process before his release, Mr David deemed it inadequate.
Vlassakis’s accomplices, John Bunting and Robert Wagner, are serving life sentences without the possibility of parole. Another accomplice, Mark Haydon, was released into the community last year after serving a 25-year sentence. The Snowtown serial killings remain one of Australia’s most notorious and disturbing crimes in recent history.