James Velasquez, the youngest person imprisoned in the Snowtown murders case in Australia, will soon be released after serving 26 years of his sentence. This news has caused significant concern among the families of the victims, who regard this decision as a 'shocking' development.
The Snowtown Murders Case
Velasquez, along with John Justin Bunting and Robert Joe Wagner, was convicted for the murder of 11 people between 1992 and 1999 in one of Australia's most controversial criminal cases. A fourth individual named Mark Hayden was also convicted for assisting in the burial of the bodies. The victims' bodies were discovered in 1999 in acid-filled barrels in Snowtown, located north of Adelaide, which became known as the 'barrel murders' case.
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Criticism from Families and Officials
Velasquez joined in these murders at the age of 18 in 1998 and confessed to four murders, including that of his stepbrother. He served as a key witness for the prosecution and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 26 years, which ended last August. The South Australian Parole Board confirmed his release that same month, rejecting the state government's request to prevent this decision.
On Tuesday, the South Australian Court of Appeal upheld the Parole Board's decision. Bunting and Wagner, who were sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, will remain in prison. Hayden will be released in 2024.
Sarah Quick, the Victims' Rights Commissioner, stated that the decision to release Velasquez has been 'very concerning' for the families of the victims. She added that although the families had prepared themselves for this outcome, the news still affected them deeply.
Karen Davis, the sister of one of the victims, described the decision as 'horrific' and said her fears have come true. She expressed that she was deeply affected when she heard the news of Velasquez's release.
Steven Pallaras, a former Director of Public Prosecutions, also strongly criticized this decision and called for a fundamental review of the parole system. He stated that a murderer should not be rewarded for good behavior four times.
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Source: independent.co.uk
