Daily Mail
· collected 2026-09-15 · by Kylie Stevens, Australian Associated
South Australia’s Court of Appeal upheld the decision by the state’s Parole Board to release James Vlassakis, who murdered four people as part of the notorious Snowtown killings in 1992-1999. The court ruled that the parole board had adequately considered community safety when deciding to free Vlassakis after nearly three decades in prison. He could be eligible for early release and will likely spend at least a year in a pre-release center under strict conditions, including no contact with victims’ families or media interviews.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-15,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
An Australian court ruled on Tuesday that James Vlassakis, who was convicted for his involvement in the notorious Snowtown murders where 11 people were killed over seven years, can be released from prison. The victims' bodies were found in barrels of acid in Snowtown, a small town north of Adelaide in South Australia, in 1999. Vlassakis, now aged 46, had been serving almost three decades behind bars after pleading guilty to four murders between 1992 and 1999. The state's Attorney-General Kyam Maher had previously tried to block the release but was unsuccessful; the decision by South Australia’s Parole Board in August 2025 was upheld by the Court of Appeal, marking a significant legal precedent regarding parole decisions for convicted serial killers.
Written for “Snowtown Killer Release Ordered” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
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anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
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No political leaning scored for article 10559 · logged 2026-09-15
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The youngest person jailed over the notorious Snowtown killings will walk free after serving almost three decades behind bars.
A decision to release James Vlassakis, 46, by South Australia's Parole Board in August 2025 was upheld by the state's Court of Appeal on Tuesday in a landmark ruling.
It comes almost a year after the state's Attorney-General Kyam Maher intervened and applied for a review of the Parole Board's decision.
asserted
Maher → see → decision
'The reasons of the Parole Board establish that they had regard to all relevant issues,' David Lovell KC wrote.
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KC → establish → issues
'The Board specifically took into account the paramount consideration of the safety of the community.
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Board → take → community
I am satisfied that it was reasonably open to the Board to reach the conclusion it did.'
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it → reach → conclusion
It's understood the serial killer could be eligible for release as early as Tuesday.
uncertain
killer → understand → Tuesday
Vlassakis pleaded guilty to four of the 11 murders between 1992 and 1999.
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Vlassakis → plead → 1992
A decision to release James Vlassakis (pictured during the trial) was upheld by South Australian Court of Appeal on Tuesday
James Vlassakis (pictured in a court sketch) pleaded guilty to four of the 11 Snowtown murders between 1992 and 1999
His victims included his half-brother Troy Youde, Frederick Brooks, Gary O'Dwyer and David Johnson.
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victims → release → brother
Vlassakis was 18 when he became involved in the killings in 1998 and 2002, and was sentenced to life for a minimum 26 years, which expired in August last year.
He also acted as a key prosecution witness against his stepfather John Bunting and Robert Wagner, who were found guilty of 11 and 10 murders respectively.
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who → become → murders
Bunting and Wagner are both serving life sentences without parole.
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Bunting → serve → parole
The bodies of eight of the 11 victims were found dismembered in barrels inside a disused bank vault in Snowtown, north of Adelaide, in 1999.
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bodies → find → 1999
In considering the review in May, the Court of Appeal had revoked the 25-year-old suppression order that banned publication of Vlassakis' image and description.
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that → consider → image
The parole board will now decide what conditions will be put in place.
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conditions → decide → place
Once released, Vlassakis is expected to spend at least a year living at a pre-release centre at Northfield in Adelaide's inner-north, where he will face strict conditions as he reintegrates with society.
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he → release → society
Vlassakis (pictured in custody in 2021) will spend at least a living at a pre-release centre
It is understood that he will not be able to contact the victims' families or give media interviews.
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he → picture → interviews
Vlassakis will also be subject to random drug testing and could be returned to custody if he returns a positive result.
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he → return → result
Mr Lovell KC noted that Vlassakis had 'only returned' three positive results from 29 tests during his time in jail.
'It must also be acknowledged that Vlassakis' demonstrated excellent behaviour while in custody and there is no suggestion that he displayed any violent behaviour during this time,' he wrote.
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he → note → time
Maher has accepted Tuesday's ruling while acknowledging that it would be a challenging day for the victims' families and the Snowtown community.
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it → accept → families
'It is a very difficult thing for those who are still around to remember what happened so well,' he told reporters on Tuesday.
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he → remember → Tuesday
The gravity and the effect this has had in South Australia, the need for community safety, were always the primary concerns of the state government.
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this → have → government
I will ask for advice if there are further steps but it has already been considered by two different parole review commissioners and the Supreme Court.'
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it → ask → commissioners
South Australian Attorney-General Kyam Maher has accepted Tuesday's ruling while acknowledging that it would be a tough day for the victims' families and Snowtown
Commissioner for Victims' Rights Sarah Quick said that while the decision did not come as a surprise, it has still stirred up feelings of shock, grief and anxiety.
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it → accept → shock
'The victims acknowledged that whilst this is a difficult time for them, it will also be a challenging time for Mr Vlassakis, who also has a significant adjustment ahead of him,' she said.
'The victims' families, while distressed, have been grateful that their voices were heard through this process, and they've been kept informed while this matter was under consideration.'
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matter → acknowledge → consideration
The Aporia
