James Vlassakis, the youngest of the infamous Snowtown killers, has been granted parole by South Australian authorities.
Vlassakis was 19 years old when he was jailed for his role in four of the 11 “bodies in the barrels” murders in the 1990s, and has since served 26 years in prison.
The SA Parole decided this afternoon to approve his application to be released from custody.
It said Vlassakis, one of three men jailed over the murders, came under the spell of ringleader and stepfather John Bunting, and has been a model prisoner for decades.
It is not certain when he will be let out on parole, with other state authorities, including the attorney-general and police commissioner, given two months to review the decision.
Vlassakis, who is now in his 40s, was sentenced to a 26-year non-parole period for pleading guilty and helping convict killers Bunting and Robert Wagner.
It expired before he submitted his application for release.
While authorities were pleased with his behaviour in prison, Snowtown victims had opposed his release.
“No. I don’t think he deserves to come out,” Karen Davies, a sister of one of the victims, said.
“I can’t see my brother again, so why is it fair for him to come out and live his life as if nothing’s happened?”
Mark Haydon, another accomplice in the serial killings between 1992 and 1999, was released into the community last year after serving 25 years in prison.
