The Snowtown serial killings are one of Australia’s most notorious and horrific crimes.
In May 1999, police made the chilling discovery of human remains hidden in an old bank vault in the South Australian regional town.
The youngest perpetrator James Spyridon Vlassakis was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2002, with a non-parole period of 26 years backdated to when he was taken into custody.
That term has now expired, and while he has not yet been released into the community, Vlassakis was on Tuesday approved for parole.
Here’s a look at Vlassakis’s involvement in the crimes, and what will happen now.
Who is James Vlassakis?
Vlassakis was the youngest of the four perpetrators involved in the “bodies-in-the-barrels” serial killings.
Twelve deaths between 1992 and 1999 were linked to the crime, 11 of which were later deemed to have been murders.
In May 1999, police made a chilling discovery
Vlassakis pleaded guilty to four of the murders.
Now aged in his mid-40s, Vlassakis was 18 when, in 1998, he took part in the murder of his half-brother Troy Youde — a crime he committed at the behest of his stepfather and Snowtown ringleader John Bunting.
Vlassakis later took part in the murders of Fred Brooks, Gary O’Dwyer and David Johnson.
The remains of all four of those victims were found at Snowtown.
Vlassakis was sentenced in 2002 to life imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 26 years from June 2, 1999, when he was taken into custody.
Because he helped convict his three co-accused by giving evidence against them, his image was — and remains — suppressed to protect him.
The bodies of eight victims were found in barrels in the disused bank at Snowtown. (ABC News: Che Chorley)
On Tuesday, Parole Board chair Frances Nelson KC said Vlassakis would not be able to change his name, following his release, unless he had the permission from the chief executive of the Department of Correctional Services.
“I very much doubt he would get that permission,” she said.
How did he become involved in the murders?
Vlassakis became involved in the serial killings through Bunting, who lived with him and his mother in Adelaide’s northern suburbs.
Ms Nelson said Bunting had Vlassakis in his “thrall”.
Friend of Snowtown victim speaks out
“He was drawn into Bunting’s behaviour,” she said.
“He was terrified of Bunting and Bunting took the place of the man of the house when he was 14 years of age and vulnerable.
“I can understand why he was drawn into this man’s thrall — he wouldn’t be the first one to say he was terrified of Bunting.”
Vlassakis’s role and involvement were detailed in the Snowtown murders movie, which was told from his perspective.
The majority of the victims were either family or friends of the four men involved.
Vlassakis was the key witness in the prosecution case against killers John Bunting and Robert Wagner, who were convicted of 11 and 10 murders respectively.
Vlassakis was a key witness in the case against Snowtown co-accused Mark Ray Haydon, Robert Joe Wagner and John Justin Bunting. (Supplied: Tim Ide)
Unlike Bunting and Wagner, who are serving life sentences without the possibility of parole, Vlassakis was given a non-parole period.
“If it had not been for your plea of guilty, your extensive cooperation with the police and your undertaking to give evidence for the prosecution in the forthcoming trial, I would have imposed a non-parole period of 42 years,” Justice Kevin Duggan said in his 2002 sentencing remarks.
“I am satisfied that you have given extensive assistance to the police in this matter and I take into account your undertaking to give evidence.
“Your confinement is likely to be much more restrictive than would otherwise be the case.”
Why has he been granted parole?
Ms Nelson said Vlassakis met the legislative criteria for parole, and was “genuinely remorseful”.
“We have to look at whether or not he presents a risk to the community and in our assessment he does not,” she said.
“His institutional behaviour has been excellent.
“Don’t forget he has done it hard in prison, because he gave evidence against Bunting and Wagner.”
Snowtown killers John Bunting and Robert Wagner are in prison with no prospect of parole. (ABC News)
Wagner has tried and failed to have a parole date set to secure the prospect of release.
Bunting has not made any application but has appeared before the parole board.
The fourth man involved as an accomplice, Mark Ray Haydon, was convicted of seven counts of assisting an offender, for storing bodies at his home north of Adelaide and for helping to move them.
He was released into the community last year after serving a 25-year sentence.
Snowtown accomplice Mark Haydon was released into the community under strict supervision last year. (ABC News)
When will Vlassakis be released?
That is unclear. According to the parole board chair, there is now a 60-day period during which several state authorities could seek a review of the parole board’s decision.
But Ms Nelson said that even if such a review were not sought, Vlassakis “wouldn’t be released directly into the community”.
“There’ll be a very careful re-socialisation program introduced for him,” she said.
Frances Nelson says Vlassakis will go through a process of social re-integration. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)
There are three authorities with the power to challenge Vlassakis’s parole: the SA Police Commissioner, the Commissioner for Victims’ Rights and the Attorney-General.
The first has indicated he will consider the matter once he has had a chance to examine the parole board’s reasons.
“I haven’t seen the basis for the decision of the parole board at this stage … and we’ll have a look at how that aligns to any prior advice that we’ve given to the parole board,” Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said.
The victims’ commissioner and Attorney-General have not confirmed whether they would seek a review, with both saying there was “strict confidentiality” around that process.
Living in the shadow of one of Australia’s worst serial killings
But former SA Director of Public Prosecutions turned political candidate Stephen Pallaras has poured scorn on the decision to grant parole.
“I’m astonished they would even consider parole. This man was convicted in relation to four murders,” he said.
“The reliance on the fact that the prisoner has behaved himself is absolute nonsense — that is what they are meant to do in jail.”
The parole board chair said Vlassakis would remain on parole for the rest of his life, and would be subject to various restrictions.
“The last thing he wants to do is inadvertently to run into one of the victims’ families, so there are quite a number of places he can’t go,” Ms Nelson said.
How have victims responded?
Ronald Lane, the nephew of one of the Snowtown victims, said he was angry and saddened by the decision, and he would like to see a review.
Ronald Lane’s relative was among the victims of the Snowtown “bodies-in-the-barrels” serial killings. (ABC News: Che Chorley)
“I think they’re [the parole board are] a complete fool to be honest — I mean this guy has done some terrible murders and killed four innocent people,” he said.
“I’m feeling absolutely disgusted — I’m mad and upset about the whole thing.”
The Commissioner for Victims’ Rights, Sarah Quick, told ABC News Breakfast there had been a range of responses from the loved ones of the Snowtown victims.
“Some victims feel a real sense of injustice about this decision while others have been anticipating this outcome and really are more resigned,” she said.
“Certainly knowing that [Vlassakis] is subject to conditions for the rest of his life does bring them some sense of security.”