Latest news with #JohnBunting
7NEWS
21-07-2025
- 7NEWS
Christmas card pulled from eBay after reports Snowtown serial killer John Bunting created it
A $5000 Christmas card has been pulled offline after it was alleged the sinister illustration was done by Australia's worst serial killer. The eBay listing for the card had a haunting image of a skull with 'Season's Greetings' written in the centre. The seller claimed the artwork was done by Snowtown serial killer, John Bunting and was advertised as: '1 of a kind. Australian Crime History.' There was also a signature on the card that read: 'J Bunting'. The auction item was removed on Monday. Bunting along with Robert Wagner, and James Vlassakis murdered 11 people around Adelaide between August 1992 and May 1999. The victims were chosen at random by Bunting and he is believed to have told Wagner and Vlassakis that they were paedophiles or homosexuals. The remains were found in barrels filled with hydrochloric acid and hidden in a disused bank vault in the quiet country town of Snowtown, about 150km north of Adelaide. The majority of the victims were either family or friends of the four perpetrators. There is no evidence that the card was illustrated by the convicted serial killer and is only suggesting it was claimed in the listing. According to the Adelaide Advertiser, correctional Services spokeswoman confirmed the matter was reported to eBay with a formal request for the listing's removal 'out of respect for Bunting's victims and their families'. The department examining the item listed to assess its origins and authenticity, warning that action would be taken if any inappropriate behaviour was found. Under South Australian legislation it is illegal to profit from crime. The Criminal Assets Confiscation Act allows the government to seize assets, including property and money, derived from criminal activity.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Yahoo
Snowtown killer could be free next month
A notorious Snowtown killer who murdered members of his own family could win his bid for freedom as early as next month. The South Australian Parole Board is scheduled to consider a parole application from James Vlassakis, who pleaded guilty on August 5 to four murders for his part in the gruesome 'bodies in the barrels' killing rampage across Adelaide in the 1990s. Vlassakis, John Justin Bunting and Robert Joe Wagner slaughtered 11 people between 1992 and 1999. Police found some of the victims decomposing in barrels hidden in the vault of a disused bank in the town of Snowtown, north of Adelaide. Vlassakis testified against Bunting and Wagner, helping the prosecution to secure convictions against the killers. Two of Vlassakis's victims included his half-brother Troy Youde and stepbrother David Johnson. In 2002, Vlassakis was punished with a life sentence and a non-parole period of 26 years, backdated to his arrest. In May this year, he lodged an application for parole. Parole Board chair Frances Nelson, speaking with the Adelaide Advertiser, confirmed the board would likely decide on his application at its August 5 meeting. She said the board had also asked the Department for Correctional Services to provide a 'through-care' plan, which considers how a prisoner might be resocialised in the community following release from jail. Snowtown accomplice Mark Ray Haydon, who helped cover up seven of the killings, was released on parole in May this year after 25 years in prison. Under the terms of his release, Haydon must be of good behaviour and not commit any offences. He is supervised by a Community Corrections officer and now resides at an approved address. Haydon is barred from knowingly contacting or associating with, either directly or indirectly, the victims of his offending, including any members of their immediate family, and is banned from leaving or attempting to leave South Australia. The Snowtown killings gained national and international attention due to the heinous nature of the murders, which involved torture. The 2011 film Snowtown, directed by Justin Kurzel, attempted to capture the viciousness of the crimes. Actor Lucas Pittaway played the role of Vlassakis, with the film anchored in his perspective. Daniel Henshall played the part of Bunting and won Best Actor at the 2012 AACTA Awards for his portrayal of the manipulative predator. The movie proved to be controversial, with some critics praising its realistic depiction of the killings, while others deplored the violence. A suppression order is in place for Vlassakis's image. The Parole Board has been contacted for comment.
