The youngest person jailed over the notorious Snowtown killings will walk free after serving almost three decades behind bars.

A decision to release James Vlassakis by South Australia’s Parole Board was upheld by the state’s Court of Appeal on Tuesday.

Vlassakis pleaded guilty to four of the 11 murders between 1992 and 1999.

He was 18 when he became involved in the killings in 1998 and was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 26 years, which expired last August.

He also acted as a key prosecution witness against John Bunting and Robert Wagner, who were found guilty of 11 and 10 murders respectively.

The bodies of eight of their victims were found dismembered in barrels inside a disused bank vault in Snowtown, north of Adelaide, in 1999.

In considering the review in May, the Court of Appeal had revoked the 25-year-old suppression order that banned publication of Vlassakis’ image and description.

South Australian Attorney-General Kyam Maher acknowledged that Tuesday would be a traumatic day for the victims’ families and the Snowtown community.

More to come. 

A decision to release James Vlassakis (pictured during the trial) was upheld by South Australian Court of Appeal on Tuesday