Snowtown killer’s identity unmasked after decades

Images of Snowtown slayer James Vlassakis tin beryllium published for the archetypal clip aft a tribunal lifted a suppression bid made 25 years ago.

On Tuesday, the South Australian Court of Appeal revoked the bid that strictly banned work of Vlassakis’ representation and description.

The determination followed an exertion by media outlets, who submitted the bid was nary longer valid.

It was imposed to support Vlassakis’ individuality aft helium gave important grounds against the two different convicted Snowtown killers, John Bunting and Robert Wagner.

The court’s ruling came arsenic it considered arguments implicit whether Vlassakis, 46, who pleaded blameworthy to 4 of the 11 murders betwixt 1992 and 1999, should beryllium released connected parole.

Last August, the Parole Board agreed to Vlassakis’s merchandise but Attorney-General Kyam Maher requested a reappraisal of the decision.

The Court of Appeal reserved its determination connected whether the determination to overturn parole should stand.

Parole Administrative Review Commissioner Michael David KC recovered the committee underestimated the effect of the gravity of Vlassakis’s transgression behaviour.

“I find that due to the fact that of the gravity of the offending arsenic described above, with the information that this is the archetypal juncture connected which parole is available, to merchandise Mr Vlassakis astatine this comparatively aboriginal stage would beryllium a hazard to the community,” David wrote.

Snowtown slayer James Vlassakis is warring to beryllium paroled aft a lengthy situation term. Photo: AAP/David Schaefer

The Parole Board subsequently sought a judicial reappraisal of David’s decision, which is being considered by the Court of Appeal.

Vlassakis appeared successful tribunal connected Tuesday via video link, and watched connected arsenic Dick Whitington KC, for the Parole Board, said David had fixed “no cogent reasons” for overturning his release.

He was represented by his long-time lawyer Lindy Powell, who said her lawsuit supported the board’s position.

Vlassakis was 18 when helium became progressive successful the killings successful 1998 and was sentenced to beingness with a minimum term of 26 years, which expired successful August 2025.

Parole Board main Frances Nelson antecedently said Vlassakis did not correspond a hazard to the assemblage and would beryllium sent to the Adelaide pre-release centre for up to 12 months to undergo a resocialisation process.

Vlassakis was a cardinal prosecution witness against Bunting and Wagner, who were recovered blameworthy of 11 and 10 murders respectively.

The bodies of 8 of their victims were recovered dismembered successful barrels wrong a disused slope vault successful Snowtown, northbound of Adelaide, successful 1999.

Accomplice Mark Ray Haydon, 66, was released connected parole successful May 2024 to unrecorded successful the assemblage under strict supervision.

Source: AAP