NEED TO KNOW
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A serial killer in South Australia was granted parole this week after a long time behind bars
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James Vlassakis, who was sentenced to life in jail with a minimal of 26 years, dedicated 4 of 11 murders that occurred between 1992 and 1999 in Snowtown
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Frances Nelson, the South Australian parole board chief, mentioned Vlassakis “doesn’t characterize a danger to the group”
James Vlassakis, a serial killer in South Australia, was granted parole this week after spending greater than 20 years behind bars, in keeping with a number of information studies.
The choice was made by the South Australian Parole Board on Tuesday, Aug. 5, with the board saying that Vlassakis will serve the rest of his life sentence exterior of jail partitions below particular situations, in keeping with The Guardian, Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC) and The Sydney Morning Herald.
Frances Nelson, the parole board chief, mentioned Vlassakis “doesn’t characterize a danger to the group” and shall be despatched to a pre-release facility for as much as 12 months earlier than he’s formally launched, per The Sydney Morning Herald.
PEOPLE reached out to the South Australian Parole Board for touch upon Tuesday, Aug. 5 however didn’t instantly hear again.
Vlassakis has been in jail for the previous 26 years after being convicted for his function within the “Snowtown murders” that occurred between 1992 and 1999 in South Australia. Authorities mentioned Vlassakis, who was 19 on the time, dedicated 4 of the 11 murders alongside three others, The Guardian reported. He has by no means been pictured.
The killings got here to mild in Might 1999, when authorities found dismembered stays in plastic barrels full of hydrochloric acid in an previous financial institution vault in Snowtown, per The Guardian.
Based on ABC, authorities mentioned the victims had been family and mates of the killers.
Fairfax Media by way of Getty
Detective Superintendant Denis Edmonds contained in the vault of a former Snowtown financial institution the place a number of our bodies had been found on Might 23, 1999.
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Vlassakis’ stepfather, John Bunting, and Robert Wagner dedicated the murders together with Vlassakis. They’re serving life sentences with out parole and Vlassakis testified towards the 2 throughout their trials, per ABC.
Mark Ray Haydon, 66, who assist cowl up the killings, was launched on parole with particular situations in Might 2024, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
The murders had been depicted within the 2011 movie Snowtown, which follows the attitude of Vlassakis’ character because the killings happen.
Ronald Lane, the nephew of one of many victims, referred to as the choice to grant Vlassakis parole a “kick within the face for the households which can be concerned,” per ABC.
“What concerning the victims’ lives? They did not get the possibility to even stay their lives — they had been brutally killed,” Lane mentioned, per the outlet.
Talking additional about Vlassakis’ launch, Nelson mentioned, “Many victims have the view that somebody hasn’t actually received a protracted sufficient sentence and so they should not be launched, however that is not a matter that ought to even function for the parole board — it will usurp the perform of the courts,” ABC reported.
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