Snowtown murderer granted parole after decades in jail

James Vlassakis has spent 26 years behind bars after being found guilty of being involved in four of the 11 murders between 1992 and 1999.

At its monthly meeting on Tuesday, SA's parole board approved his application to serve the remainder of his life sentence under conditions in the community.

Parole Board chief Frances Nelson told AAP that Vlassakis "does not represent a risk to the community" and would be sent to the Adelaide pre-release centre for up to 12 months and undergo a resocialisation process.

Vlassakis was 19 when he committed the crimes and was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 26 years, which expires in August 2025.

Ms Nelson said she was "sure that the victims feel he has been insufficiently punished".

"That's quite common for victims to feel that way, but that's not our role," she said. 

"Sentencing and punishment is a matter for a judge, not for a parole board, and the legislation prevents us from imposing our own view on sentence, so our role is simply to assess whether he fulfils the legislative criteria for parole."

Snowtown murders accomplice Mark Ray Haydon, 66, was released on parole in May 2024 to live in the community under strict supervision.

Vlassakis was also a key prosecution witness against John Bunting and Robert Wagner, who were found guilty of 11 and 10 murders respectively.

Both are serving life sentences with no chance of parole.

Vlassakis would be moved to the pre-release centre "provided there is no request to review our decision", Ms Nelson said.

"There is a 60-day period which would enable either the attorney general or the commissioner for victims rights or the police commissioner to apply for a review," she said.

Commissioner for Victims Rights Sarah Quick told AAP the decision would "understandably bring fresh pain and anger to those who have already suffered beyond measure".

"These individuals are not only worn down by their trauma, but also by the ongoing criminal justice processes," she said. 

"The prospect of Mr Vlassakis re-entering the community is a difficult reality for the victims and will require a significant emotional adjustment, adding to an already unbearable burden.

"We must never forget that - for the friends, family and loved ones of murder victims - the impact of the killing does not end simply because a prison term has ended. It is something they live with every day for the rest of their lives."

A suppression order on images of Vlassakis remains in effect, and there has been a high level of secrecy regarding his imprisonment.

In July, Haydon appeared in the SA Supreme Court, where an application for an extended supervision order for a high-risk offender was approved, and most of the conditions of an interim order imposed in 2024 were confirmed.

He spent 25 years in jail for his role as an accessory in the murder spree.

Australian Associated Press