Snowtown killer James Vlassakis's image has been revealed — here's why

James Vlassakis was one of four perpetrators in the Snowtown serial killings. (Supplied) Link copiedShareShare articleJames Vlassakis was the youngest of four perpetrators convicted for his role in the notorious "bodies-in-the-barrels" serial killings, which rocked Australia at the turn of the century. In May 1999, police made the chilling discovery of human remains hidden in barrels secreted in an old bank vault in Snowtown, in South Australia's Mid North. While Vlassakis's name has always been in the public domain, his image had remained hidden for 25 years due to a suppression on his identity. A court sketch of Snowtown killer James Vlassakis. (Supplied) But, on Tuesday, South Australia's highest court lifted a long-running suppression order banning the publication of his image or description of his appearance. So why has his face been kept secret for so long and why can we identify him now? James Spyridon Vlassakis was born in December 1979 and was just 18 in mid-1998, when he took part in the murder of his half-brother Troy Youde — a crime he committed at the behest of his stepfather and Snowtown ringleader John Bunting. It was one of 12 deaths between 1992 and 1999, of which Bunting was convicted of 11 and the other main offender — Robert Wagner — was convicted of 10. John Bunting and Robert Wagner are serving life sentences without the possibility of parole. (ABC News) A fourth man Mark Ray Haydon, was involved as an accomplice and convicted of seven counts of assisting an offender, for storing bodies at his home north of Adelaide and for helping to move them. Vlassakis pleaded guilty to four of the murders. He was still 18 when he took part in the murders of Fred Brooks in September 1998 and Gary O'Dwyer later that year. He was also convicted of the May 1999 murder of the last of the victims, David Johnson. The remains of each of those victims were found at Snowtown. The old bank at Snowtown where eight bodies were found in barrels in 1999. (ABC News: Che Chorley) Vlassakis was sentenced to life in prison in 2002, with a non-parole period of 26 years. The sentence was backdated to when he was taken into custody in June 1999. Because he helped to convict his three co-offenders by giving evidence against them, his image was suppressed for his protection. In 1994, Vlassakis's mother began a relationship with John Bunting, and at times Vlassakis lived with them. When Vlassakis was sentenced in 2002, Justice Kevin Duggan said he was "besotted" by Bunting, who had "became somewhat of a hero" and father figure to Vlassakis. Last year, Parole Board chair Frances Nelson KC, said Vlassakis was "drawn to Bunting's behaviour". Frances Nelson KC said Vlassakis was "terrified of Bunting". (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall) "He was terrified of Bunting and Bunting took the place of the man of the house when he was 14 years of age and vulnerable," she said. Most of the victims were either family or friends of the four men involved. Vlassakis was the key witness in the prosecution case against killers John Bunting and Robert Wagner, who are each serving life sentences without the possibility for parole. James Vlassakis in custody around the late 1990s or early 2000s. (Supplied) At the time he was sentenced in 2002, Justice Duggan said Vlassakis was not the instigator of any of the murders and had become involved "through someone who had considerable influence over you". He also noted that, in June 2001, when Vlassakis entered his guilty pleas it "came with an undertaking to assist the police and give evidence against the others who had been charged". "If it had not been for your plea of guilty, your extensive cooperation with the police and your undertaking to give evidence for the prosecution in the forthcoming trial, I would have imposed a non-parole period of 42 years," Justice Kevin Duggan said. "I am satisfied that you have given extensive assistance to the police in this matter and I take into account your undertaking to give evidence." Police officers carry evidence bags out of the old Snowtown bank building early in the investigation into the serial killings. (ABC News) He said Vlassakis at the time was to be "subjected to close confinement" because he was yet to give evidence at the subsequent trials for Bunting and Wagner. "Your confinement is likely to be much more restrictive than would otherwise be the case." Vlassakis's image was also suppressed to protect his identity ahead of giving evidence. Last year, the Parole Board granted Vlassakis release on parole, and Ms Nelson explained at the time that he met the legislative criteria and was "genuinely remorseful". She said his behaviour in custody was "excellent". "We have to look at whether or not he presents a risk to the community and in our assessment he does not," she said. A composite image showing a file photo of Snowtown killer James Vlassakis in custody and a court sketch of him 25 years later. (Supplied) But, he h

Snowtown killer James Vlassakis's image has been revealed — here's why

Key takeaways

More in international