27th Murderer, John Justin Bunting - 28th Murderer, Robert Joe Wagner - 29th Murderer, James Spyridon Vlassakis – Victims: The eleven ‘bodies in the barrels’ Snowtown murders, South Australia
Robert Wagner, born 28 Nov 1971, and his accomplice John Bunting, born 4 Sept 1966, are among a small group of the worst Australian murderers with no chance of parole.
Bunting was the ringleader of a "degenerate sub-culture" of murderers whose victims were people they already knew. Under the instruction of Bunting, the group would prey upon the weak so they could steal their welfare payments. His crimes led to the longest and most expensive investigations and criminal trials in South Australia's history.
Bunting met Wagner when he moved to Waterloo Corner Road. Wagner was living with Barry Lane at the time; both men assisted Bunting in disposing of the body of his first victim, Clinton Trezise. Wagner later assisted Bunting in the remaining ten murders.
Bunting and Wagner were charged with 12 murders between 1992 and 1999 — with Wagner eventually convicted of 10 and Bunting 11 murders following South Australia’s longest criminal trial.
Vlassakis, born 24 Dec 1979, was tried separately from the other accused and was the first to be sentenced for his role in the murders. Vlassakis pleaded guilty to the four murders he was charged with.
The vile serial killing spree culminated in Wagner and Bunting cooking and eating the flesh of their final victim, David Johnson, who was murdered inside the Snowtown bank vault where police discovered the remains of eight victims inside six barrels in May 1999.
§ Clinton Trezise, 22 (d. Aug 1992) was found buried in a shallow grave in 1994 at Lower Light. Killed in Bunting's living room at his home in Salisbury North, by being bashed with a shovel after being invited in for a social visit.
§ Ray Davies, 26 (d. Dec 1995), a mentally handicapped man who lived in a caravan in the back yard behind Suzanne Allen's house who became a target after her accusation that he was a paedophile. Harvey assisted in his torture. Davies was never reported missing.
§ Suzanne Allen, 47. Allen was a friend of Bunting's. She died some time after Davies, and her remains were found buried above his in the garden of the house at Salisbury North. Her remains were wrapped in eleven different plastic bags. Her death was concealed by the accused and they continued to collect her pension, but they later claimed she had actually died of a heart attack. Based on the evidence presented at trial, the jury was unable to decide without doubt that she had been murdered.
§ Michael Gardiner, 19 (d. Aug 1997) an openly gay man murdered after a suspicion arose that he was also a paedophile.
§ Barry Lane, 42 (d. Oct 1997), a gay man and cross dresser who had been in a relationship with Wagner at the time Bunting first met them in 1991 when he moved to their neighbourhood. Trevilyan was a later boyfriend of Lane's. Lane had been tortured by having his toes crushed with pliers.
§ Thomas Trevilyan, 18 (d. 1997) was found hanging from a tree near Kersbrook in the Adelaide Hills, and was initially presumed to have committed suicide. He had helped in the murder of Barry Lane, but was later killed after discussing the crime with others. He was known to his family to have suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and was easily persuaded.
§ Gavin Porter, 29 (d. Apr 1998), a heroin addict and friend of Vlassakis. After Bunting, Elizabeth Harvey, Vlassakis, and Youde moved to Murray Bridge, South Australia, Porter also moved in. Bunting decided he should be the next victim after he was pricked by a discarded syringe Porter left on the couch in the living room. Porter was strangled in his car parked on the property.
§ Troy Youde, 21 (d. Sep 1998), Vlassakis' half-brother and son of Elizabeth Harvey who was living with them at Bunting's Murray Bridge house at the time of his death. He was killed in the house after being dragged from his bed while asleep. This was the first murder Vlassakis participated in.
§ Fred Brooks, 18 (d. Sep 1998). The intellectually disabled son of Jodie Elliott, a woman in love with Bunting, was chosen by Bunting as an easy victim and lured to his house where he was attacked and brutally tortured.
§ Gary O'Dwyer, 29 (d. Nov 1998), man disabled in an earlier car accident and on a pension, O'Dwyer was a stranger, picked as an easy target. Was killed in his home in Frances Street, Murray Bridge, by Bunting, Wagner and Vlassakis.
§ Elizabeth Haydon, 37 (d. Nov 1998), Mark Haydon's wife, killed by Bunting and Wagner in her home while her husband was out.
§ David Johnson, 24 (d. May 1999) Vlassakis' half-brother. Murdered by Bunting in the bank building having been lured there by Vlassakis. He was the only victim to have died in Snowtown.
Bunting, now 54, will never be released from jail. He has already served 17 years. Based on the average annual cost of Maximum Security Incarceration in 2020, should Bunting live another 21 years to 75, his jail incarceration will have cost the S.A. taxpayer $9.625 million circa ($175,000 p.a. X 38 years).
Wagner, now 49, will never be released from jail. He has already served 17 years. Based on the average annual cost of Maximum Security Incarceration in 2020, should Wagner live another 26 years to 75, his jail incarceration will have cost the S.A. taxpayer $9.625 million circa ($175,000 p.a. X 43 years).
Vlassakis, now 41, is highly unlikely to ever be released from jail. He has already served 19 years. Based on the average annual cost of Maximum Security Incarceration in 2020, should Vlassakis live another 34 years to 75, his jail incarceration will have cost the South Australian taxpayer $9.625 million circa ($175,000 p.a. X 53 years).
Questions re 27th Murderer, 28th Murderer and 29th Murderer
Should the South Australian state government amend its criminal codes so that where the level of proof is Beyond Any Doubt of Guilt that the death penalty may be sentenced for malicious unprovoked murder because Justice for the Innocent Victim should be a consideration amongst the Purposes of Sentencing?
Should other states and territories similarly amend their criminal codes?
Write responses to above two questions re 27th Murderer, 28th Murderer and 29th Murderer on 'Peer Reviewer's Responses to Sentences Form' Word document