A date has been established for a critical hearing concerning the potential parole release of the youngest participant in the notorious Snowtown murders. However, the proceedings will be conducted under a veil of secrecy.
Scheduled for December 5, the hearing will occur behind closed doors, with the media barred from attending. This is in accordance with legal stipulations that mandate such proceedings remain confidential.
This morning, a brief hearing took place, attended by reporters and legal representatives, including the legal counsel for James Vlassakis.
Vlassakis, who was implicated in four of the 11 gruesome Snowtown murders during the 1990s, became a controversial figure once more when he was granted parole in August after serving a 26-year sentence.
Despite discussions initiated by parole board commissioner Michael David KC regarding media access to the high-profile appeal, it was ultimately decided that the hearings must adhere to the privacy laws in place.
In a dramatic turn, the South Australian attorney-general swiftly intervened with a last-minute effort to halt Vlassakis’s parole, adding another layer of complexity to this infamous case.
Kyam Maher asked for a review saying the parole board failed to give proper consideration to community safety.
