Jon Venables was released in 2001 following his conviction for the torture and murder of James Bulger, but has been in an out of jail since, now he could walk free again
Jon Venables, one of the notorious murderers of toddler James Bulger, is making another bid for freedom, leaving James’s relatives heartbroken.
Back in 1993, when he was 10 years old, Venables and accomplice Robert Thompson snatched, tortured, and killed two year old James after enticing him from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside. The horrific crime sent shockwaves across Britain, leading to both boys being found guilty of murder that very year.
The duo received life sentences but walked free in 2001 with fresh identities under a contentious licence arrangement. Yet Venables ended up back in custody on two occasions – initially in 2010 and then in 2017 – after being caught with indecent images of children. He served a 40-month stretch for his most recent conviction.
Now aged 43, Venables has been given a chance to try for freedom again when he goes before a panel, with a hearing likely next month.
Denise Fergus and Ralph Bulger, James’s mum and her ex-husband, have been informed that Venables is set to appear before the Parole Board within months.
The pair said they were “angry and anxious” and writing witness statements on why Venables should stay in jail.
A source told The Sun: “It is outrageous he is getting another shot at freedom — how many chances does he need?
“If ever there was a case where they should throw away the key, surely this is it.”
The source continued: “The family have been assured he will be dealt with as a ‘high-risk’ case and it will take a lot to see him freed. But it is still a huge concern that he is allowed to re-apply so quickly.
Speaking candidly to the BBC in 2019, Mrs Fergus disclosed her doubts about Venables’ capacity for rehabilitation, stating: “I’ve tried to give the justice system the benefit of the doubt. But they’ve failed – and every time they try again, it’s James who gets forgotten.”
Ralph Bulger has mirrored these feelings of anguish.
In a 2020 interview, he declared: “He’s a danger to children and he should never be released – ever. Every time he applies for parole, we’re dragged through this all over again.”
The Parole Board said: “We can confirm the parole review of Jon Venables has been referred to the Parole Board by the Secretary of State for Justice and is following standard processes.”
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