A woman would recognize one of the suspects, 10-year-old Jon Venables. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. View our online Press Pack. A source said: Hes been relocated all over the country a large number of times costing a fortune. News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. The older boys then meandered around Liverpool past shops, buildings, and parking lots. The twisted child killer, now aged 39, took the youngster from a shopping centre along with friend Robert Thompson, before the baby's dead body by a railway track. ROBERT Thompson abducted and tortured to death two-year-old James Bulger alongside his partner in crime Jon Venables when they were just ten years old. Venables and Robert Thompson - who were 10 at the time of the horrifying murder - were both convicted in November 1993. Robert Thompson was born on August 23, 1982 - the fifth of seven children. But by 4:15 p.m., there was no sign of the boy and so he was quickly reported missing to the police. A source told the paper that Venables told the panel and his probation officer he doesn't even want to be freed. The boys hesitated, perhaps reconsidering what they were about to do, and did briefly turn away from the embankment. Menu. Grainy CCTV footage shows them walking James away from the. But the President of the Family Division Sir Andrew McFarlane rejected the bid, saying it was in place to protect Venables from being "put to death". Its just a big knot in your chest and thats been there since day one.. They then kicked him, pummelled him with bricks and stones, and stuffed batteries into his mouth. Thompson hasnt reoffended per the terms of his release, but authorities believe he masterminded the plan that led to James Bulgers death. He holds dual bachelor's degrees from Pace University and a master's degree from New York University. By the time Bulger was dead, he had sustained 42 brutal injuries in total. What about his mum, will you tell her Im sorry?. He excelled in his academics and began to develop an interest in textiles. He was visited regularly by his parents and was kept at Red Bank for the full eight years because of good progress, despite the facility only being a short-stay remand unit. He was sent back to prison with a new identity as hed divulged who he was to staff and inmates. Who was Wu Lien-teh and who was his wife Ruth? By all accounts, Venables and Thompson showed no violent or aberrant behavior in prison but instead served their time for the James Bulger murder quietly and without incident. Shockingly, James Bulger wasnt the first child they targeted that day. Not long after the elderly woman sent the boys on their way, Bulger was almost rescued yet again. Robert had no father figure as his dad abandoned the family five years before the murder. Like Thompson, Venables parents were separated. Over 20 years later, he has remained off the radar of authorities and has continued to live under his assumed identity. But when she looked down, he was gone. WikimediaJames Bulger killers Jon Venables (holding the boys hand) and Robert Thompson (walking directly in front of the boy) abduct their victim just before killing him, as captured by a surveillance camera. "This is, therefore, a wholly exceptional case and the evidence in 2019 is more than sufficient to sustain the conclusion that there continues to be a real risk of very substantial harm to (Venables).". Here is what happened to Jon Venables after he was found guilty of murdering James Bulger. In Channel 5's two-part documentary Lost Boy: The Killing of James Bulger, one of the investigators who questioned Thompson said the young boy was "street smart" and "clever," and said the ten-year-old was "trying very, very hard to con me.". And in the time between when that image was captured and when James Bulger was killed in a railway embankment a few miles away, the three boys had been seen walking around the area by dozens of people. In November 1993, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables became the youngest convicted murderers in British history. Upon their release, Jon Venables and Robert Thompson were given new identities and granted legal anonymity for life due to the public fury that surrounded their trial and the danger of citizens hunting down the infamous James Bulger killers in order to take vengeance. Malcolm Croft/PA Images/Getty ImagesJames Bulgers parents, pictured one day before their child was found dead. The judge said: [Venables] is uniquely notorious and there is a strong possibility, if not a probability, that if his identity were known he would be pursued resulting in grave and possibly fatal consequences.. A woman passing by noticed Bulger but did nothing. Clickhereto upload yours. Daniel Rennie is a freelance writer residing in Melbourne, Australia. Ever since James was murdered so horrifically, the courts have bent over backwards to look after both Venables and Thompson. Not only had both boys been truant that day, but Venables had also been seen with blue paint on his jacket (the same color that had been used to blind Bulger during his torture). Before long, an anonymous caller reported to the police that Thompson and Venables were behind the murder, revealing that both boys had been absent from school on the day of Bulgers disappearance and that there may have been some criminal evidence on Venables jacket. They were a match made in hell. He added: "As Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss held, (Venables) is 'uniquely notorious' and there is a strong possibility, if not a probability, that if his identity were known he would be pursued resulting in grave and possibly fatal consequences. A two-year-old James Bulger was kidnapped and killed by the ten-year-old Robert Thompson and his partner Jon Venables. At 18 years old, Venables and Thompson were both released from a young offenders institution under licence in June 2001. Children are seen by society as innocent and pure, without malice. But as they scanned the lists of children who had been absent that day from local schools, they soon received an anonymous phone call that blamed Venables and Thompson for the crime. James Bulgers mother, Denise, was able to locate Robert Thompson in 2004 but was paralyzed with hatred and could not confront him. He became eligible for parole in 2013, at which time Ralph Bulger told the parole board that he couldnt forgive his sons killers and that Venables should not be released. Venables has now been caged for 40 months foradmitting having a paedo manual explaining "how to have sex with little girls" as well as over 1,000 vile child abuse images. In November 2020, a source speaking toThe Sunconfirmed that Jon had asked the parole board not to approve his release. On 24 November 1993, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables were found guilty of the murder of James Bulger, becoming the youngest convicted murderers in the 20th century. On February 12, 1993, he was tragically murdered by two 10-year-old boys, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables. Apparently satisfied with their explanation, the woman simply told the two boys to take the toddler down to the nearby Walton Lane Police Station. As the jury foreman read the verdict, Venables and Thompson were sitting in an adult court dock that had been altered so that the boys could see over it. The child killer was released from a. AT just ten years old, Jon Venables callously abducted and murdered James Bulger, 2, in 1993 in a case that sent shockwaves through the UK and the rest of the world. Who suggested it is unclear; later, after they were arrested, each blamed the other. The 36-year-old has not re-offended since being released on licence when he was 18 years old. PA Images/Getty ImagesThe Liverpool railway embankment where James Bulgers body was found. They were released on lifelong licence in 2001, but Venables was . But once a child turns 18, their name can be reported. Though both boys had killed Bulger, Roberts believed that Thompson was in charge. And Roberts wasnt the only one. How James Bulger Was Killed By Jon Venables And Robert Thompson. Though nearly three decades have passed, the story of Robert Thompson and Jon Venables remains shocking to this day. For other inquiries, Contact Us. We pay for your stories! "Don't bother," was Jacinda Ardern's message to the child murderer when a local news conference touched on the reports British officials were looking to potentially relocate him to New Zealand. The seven years he spent in detention helped Robert as he is yet to reoffend or violate the terms of his release. On March 4, 2019, it was announced Thompson's accomplice Jon Venables is to keep his anonymity after a judge ruled it would protect him from "serious violence". BWP Media via Getty ImagesTen-year-old Jon Venables poses for a mugshot for British authorities on February 20, 1993. Thompson is believed to have succeeded in making a new life for himself. "To let him out could be another death sentence for an innocent child like James. Robert Thompson was released in 2010. He was 10 years old. Venables and Thompson were both charged. This indefinite sentence has no maximum but does have a minimum to be determined on a case-by-case basis. His dad abandoned the family five years before Bulger's murder - leaving mum Ann devastated. In one of the most chilling photos in recent times, Venables was captured holding the 2-year-old James Bulger as Robert walked ahead of the pair. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. He totally denied everything, said Detective Sergeant Phil Roberts. Robert Thompson was born on August 23, 1982 the fifth of seven children. Police were focused on other children who already had violent records, and they remained convinced that the two boys from the fuzzy CCTV footage looked 13 or 14, not 10. Beyond that, I have no further comments to make., Inside Aimee Challenors life, her husband and parents, Inside Kimberly Guilfoyles life, her parents and ex-husbands, Are Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes still dating? Within hours of that surveillance image being captured on the afternoon of February 12, 1993, 10-year-olds Jon Venables and Robert Thompson had tortured two-year-old James Bulger to death. Under current legislation, child suspects are granted automatic anonymity in the youth courts and are routinely granted the same if they appear at crown court aside from exceptional circumstances. On November 24, 1993, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables were found guilty of the abduction and murder of James Bulger, making them the youngest convicted killers in modern British history. Instead of jail time, he was ordered to seek treatment for alcohol abuse. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. After luring the toddler away from a shopping center in Bootle, Merseyside, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables kidnapped, tormented, and murdered him in 1993. The report concluded: After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made whilst in custody and on licence, as well as the other evidence presented in the dossier, the panel was not satisfied that Mr Venables was suitable for re-release. But they werent. But in November 2017, Jon Venables was again imprisoned when more child abuse images and a pedophile manual that provided instructions on having sex with kids were discovered on his computer. The source said: Venables told the board he did not seek release because hes worried that hell reoffend. The panel listed as risk factors those influencers that made it more likely that Mr. Venables would reoffend in the future,the report read. Moments later, her three-year-old daughter and two-year-old son were missing. The tot was kidnapped, tortured, and sexually abused by the two ten-year-olds. He pleaded guilty to charges of downloading and distributing child sex images and was given a sentence of two years in prison. It wont be a slap on the wrist for me.. Though they were unsuccessful, Thompson and Venables didnt give up. Popular disgust only intensified when witnesses and the media noted Thompsons cold, seemingly remorseless behavior at trial (compared with Venables hysterical outbursts). A move abroad would cost, of course, but the thinking is it would be cheaper in the long run.. It was also noted that Venables had not requested a release from prison or a transfer to an open jail. Jon Venables was just 10-years-old when he and Robert Thompson abducted and murdered James Bulger alongside - and now he is back behind bars after being caught with horrific child abuse images. Though a train came and severed Bulgers body in two it was obvious that his demise was no accident. But it didnt take long for Venables to confess. Something went wrong, please try again later. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, both 10, murdered him in cold blood. On one occasion, his probation officer made a home visit and saw that Venables was busy trying to destroy a hard drive from his computer. Robert Thompson was born on August 23, 1982 - the fifth of seven children. Thompson was the fifth of seven children, born on August 23, 1982, in Liverpool, England. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . He said: "I don't know how he was doing at school, but he was switched on and he was trying to con me, trying very hard". The killer was 10-years-old when he and Robert Thompson murdered two-year-old James Bulger in 1993, which is. Jon Venables was responsible for a sickening crime that horrified the nation. There, they splashed stolen blue paint into Bulgers eyes. With Bulgers mother, Denise, momentarily distracted, they got the toddler to come with them. Some witnesses later reported that the older boys roughed up Bulger in plain sight, kicking, punching, and shaking him. But according to some sources, Venables does not want to be freed, in part over fears hell re-offend and in part over his inability to avoid drugs. Robert hasn't reoffended. March 10, 2021 - 20:29 GMT Eve Crosbie. After questioning Thompson and Venables, Detective Phil Roberts said, As far as Im concerned that day I stared evil in the face., Roberts continued, They were a match made in hell. While some adults stopped to ask the children a few questions, they all let the boys go on their way, apparently believing that Bulger was either being taken home or to the police station. Motive aside, both Jon Venables and Robert Thompson were convicted, making them the youngest to be convicted of that crime in Britain in 250 years. He added: "As Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss held, (Venables) is 'uniquely notorious' and there is a strong possibility, if not a probability, that if his identity were known he would be pursued resulting in grave and possibly fatal consequences. Why Kissing The Blarney Stone Is One Of Ireland's Most Legendary Traditions, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. After a three-week trial, the jury took only five hours to render a guilty verdict for the boys. Email us attips@the-sun.co.ukor call 0207 782 4368 . Though Thompson was believed to have been the leader of the James Bulger murder plot, he has never reoffended since hes been released. Email us attips@the-sun.co.ukor call 0207 782 4368 . After that point, the James Bulger killers were to be assessed and, if they werent deemed to be a danger to society, released. A policeman stands guard at the entrance of the site where the body of James Bulger was found on a railway embankment in Liverpool. This is a case that rocked Britain and shocked the entire world. ", The report said Venables was benefitting from ongoing psychological work in prison and had taken part in programmes to address decision making, better ways of thinking and a propensity for sexual offending.. Soon after, a woman saw Thompson punch Bulger and shake him. James Bulgers father Ralph said he could rest easy as one of his sons killers was refused parole, but feared he would re-offend if he was ever released. Then Venables and Thompson came upon two older boys that they knew. Speaking at the time, he said: "(Venables) is 'uniquely notorious' and there is a strong possibility, if not a probability, that if his identity were known he would be pursued resulting in grave and possibly fatal consequences. He was so badly battered, authorities later concluded, that there was no way to tell which injury represented the fatal blow. in 2010, He was jailed again for downloading a collection of child porn on his PC and got out in 2013. in 2017, He downloaded more child porn and was jailed again and got out of jail in 2020. During their November 1993 trial, the world was equally shocked and outraged that two young boys could have the capacity to viciously murder a toddler. Venables soon blurted out, I did kill him. Nevertheless, Venables was released. Venables, Thompson, and Bulger then walked into two different stores where they interacted with both shopkeepers who, though suspicious of the older boys, let them go. Both were released under strict conditions in 2001 and given new identities, but Venables kept falling foul of the law and was put behind bars once again for more horrific crimes. Both of them served their eight-year sentences and earned release from prison in 2001 after they each had turned 18. The body of two-year-old James Bulger was discovered near a set of railroad tracks in Liverpool, England on a cold February day in 1993. Sarah Everard: Serving Met Police officer Wayne Couzens, 48, arrested on suspicion of murder, kidnap & indecent exposure, Brazil Covid variant is an 'atom bomb' that threatens to destroy worlds hopes of beating the pandemic, experts warn, Burping and 8 other unusual Covid symptoms that can linger for months, Bizarre floating ships seen off the coast of Britain could unlock the 109-year-old mystery of the Titanic's sinking, Weather forecast UK LIVE Met Office warnings of gale force winds for ALL of England today, Kent variant is up to TWICE as deadly as original strains, scientists warn. He added: "As Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss held, (Venables) is 'uniquely notorious' and there is a strong possibility, if not a probability, that if his identity were known he would be pursued resulting in grave and possibly fatal consequences. Officials wrote: "The panel listed as risk factors those influences that made it more likely that Mr Venables would reoffend in the future. American Aviator Charles Lindbergh Was A God Among Men Until He Revealed His Nazi Sympathies, Two Seattle Artists Face Federal Charges For Faking Native American Heritage To Sell Art, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. Both Robert Thompson and Jon Venables had rough early years. She phoned the police and expressed regret for not doing something. She turned to drink and fell into depression, as well as allegedly trying to take her own life with an overdose. However, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern issued a short and sharp response to reports Venables could apply to relocate to the country. A woman concerned for the toddler told Venables and Thompson that she would take the child to the police station herself. By the time Thompson and Venables skipped school together on February 12, 1993, the two boys were good friends. 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