Snowtown killer James Vlassakis moves to Adelaide Pre-release Centre ahead of parole release

Convicted killer James Vlassakis has been transferred to the Adelaide Pre-release Centre as he prepares to be released into the community after serving more than 26 years in prison.

Vlassakis, 46, was granted parole earlier this month after completing his non-parole period. He will spend up to 12 months at the pre-release centre in Yatala, in Adelaide's northern suburbs, where his progress will be monitored by the Parole Board.

The Parole Board will determine the conditions of his release during his time at the centre. Vlassakis was one of four perpetrators involved in the 'bodies in the barrels' serial killings, which took place between 1992 and 1999.

He pleaded guilty to his involvement in the murders of Fred Brooks, Gary O'Dwyer, David Johnson, and Troy Youde. As a key prosecution witness, Vlassakis helped secure convictions against John Bunting and Robert Wagner, who were jailed for 11 and 10 murders respectively.

Ronald Lane, nephew of Snowtown victim Barry Lane, expressed concerns about Vlassakis's sentence, saying: "I just think the laws need to be look into and changed so that nobody else has to go through the same sort of thing that myself and my family have gone through."

Vlassakis was not involved in the murder of Mr Lane in October 1997. His transfer to the pre-release centre marks the first step towards his release into the community.