An Australian court has ruled that James Vlassakis, the youngest of three individuals convicted in the infamous "Bodies-in-Barrels" murders, will be released from prison. The South Australia Court of Appeal on Tuesday upheld a parole board decision from last month, rejecting the state government's attempt to block Vlassakis's release.
The case, one of Australia's most notorious criminal cases, involved the murders of 11 people over seven years. Most of the victims' bodies were discovered in 1999, concealed in barrels of acid in Snowtown, a small town north of Adelaide.
Vlassakis, who is now 46, was 18 when his criminal activity began in 1998. He pleaded guilty to four murders, including those of his half-brother and stepbrother. He later became a key witness for the prosecution. Vlassakis was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 26 years, a period that concluded in August of the previous year. He was initially granted parole in December, but the state government successfully challenged that decision, leading to Tuesday's appeal court ruling.
The discovery of the dismembered bodies in a derelict Snowtown bank branch and the subsequent year-long trial, which concluded in 2003, captivated Australia. The case inspired books and the 2011 film "Snowtown."
The parole board maintained that Vlassakis has consistently shown remorse and contrition, and that he no longer poses a risk. The board chair, Frances Nelson, stated that Vlassakis had not been diagnosed with any anti-social personality disorder and has exhibited excellent behavior during his incarceration. Nelson further commented that the parole board would not have recommended his release if they believed he posed a risk, suggesting that the attorney general's concerns may have caused unnecessary public alarm.
South Australia's Attorney-General Kyam Maher, who had argued against Vlassakis's parole, emphasized the gravity of the crimes and the need for community safety. Maher stated that the case had left an indelible mark on the psyche of South Australia and deeply affected victims' families, friends, and communities.
Vlassakis was the stepson of the ringleader, John Bunting, who was convicted of 11 murders. Bunting targeted individuals he suspected of being pedophiles or gay, and also killed people he disliked due to their weight or drug use. The victims' Social Security payments were reportedly stolen. Bunting's neighbor, Robert Wagner, was convicted of 10 murders. Both Bunting and Wagner were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Another accomplice, Mark Haydon, who admitted to assisting in the disposal of two bodies, was released in 2024 after serving a 25-year sentence, as jury verdicts on two murder charges against him were not reached.