That blow alone caused 10 skull fractures. In January 2018, James Bulger's mum Denise Fergus backed calls for a public inquiry into the toddler's murder. At first glance, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables seemed like two ordinary 10-year-olds. Other searches were conducted elsewhere, all leading to nothing. But when Venables was recalled to jail in 2010, it emerged Thompson had done well at Barton Moss secure unit, in Eccles, Lancs, showing a growing interest and talent in art. In 2006, reports claimed Thompson was in a stable gay relationship at age 23 and had settled well into his local community in the North West. Not long after the bar fight, he was found to be in possession of cocaine. Robert Thompson, now 36, said he is a "better person" thanks to his years in prison but. The. Gone outside with the boy, she said. They then bludgeoned him with bricks and stones, kicked his battered body, and shoved batteries into his mouth. This caused various children to be identified as potential killers, with some parents even reporting their own kids. More than 25 years later, the surveillance image above remains etched in the minds of the millions familiar with the James Bulger case. 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. After momentarily becoming distracted, Bulger's mother noticed that he was nowhere to be seen. She called out to them once more as they walked away but they did not look back. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Robert Thompson and Venables became Britain's youngest killers for 250 years, James Bulger was snatched from his mum in a shopping mall in Merseyside, Denise Fergus shows previously unseen family photos of her murdered two-year-old son for a new documentary 'James Bulger: A Mother's Story with Trevor McDonald', Greece train crash: Inside 10 seconds of terror after worst ever head-on smash sparks derailment blaze leaving 38 dead, Man, 43, died after being held down by security guards at Sainsbury's, Woman, 37, found dead in posh flat near racecourse as man charged with murder, Full list of school closures today as tens of thousands of teachers walk out how to check latest advice for parents, has now been caged for 40 months foradmitting having a paedo manual explaining "how to have sex with little girls", Venables is to keep his anonymity after a judge ruled it would protect him from "serious violence", Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Over the course of interviews lasting several days, Venables eventually confessed. Then, dive into the maddening mystery behind the Atlanta Child Murders. In 2010, he was imprisoned for downloading images depicting various kinds of sexual abuse being inflicted upon male toddlers. And if they hadnt been caught I fear they would have struck again. He is yet to violate the terms of his release. So the authorities secretly visited Robert Thompson who lived in Walton, not far from the murder scene with his mother and 2 younger brothers. Since being freed, Venables alone is thought to have cost the public around 5million. In their bid to have Venable's identity disclosed, lawyers for Ralph and Jimmy Bulger argued certain details about the killer and his life are "common knowledge" and easily accessible online. In his confession, Jon stated that it was Roberts idea that they kill Bulger. She had thought that her son was by her side as she was placing her order at the butcher shop. This is one of the saddest and most devastating stories I have ever heard. 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. A woman passing by noticed Bulger but did nothing. After serving three years, he was released on parole. The youngster had no record of violence before he was found guilty of killing two-year-old James Bulger. The images included category A photos, the most serious type, and he also admitted having a paedophile manual. She was also bothered by the fact that Thompson would cry, but there wouldn't be any tears. Explaining why a worldwide injuction preventing details about Venables and Thompson was imposed, then Home Secretary David Blunkett said: "The injunction was granted because there was a real and strong possibility that their lives would be at risk if their identities became known.". Not only did they find blue paint on Venables jacket, but they also found blood on Thompsons shoes. 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. In the wake of removing the baby from a mall in Bootle, Merseyside, two 10-year-old young men grabbed and killed him in 1993. tvguidetime.com The paint was showered in his eyes, blocks were flung at him, he was kicked, and batteries were embedded in his mouth. 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. Like Thompson, Venables parents were separated. The Netline reports that Thompson has fully integrated into society and has "built a healthy relationship" inside the community in which he lives. 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. 721 Smith Rd. An official Parole Board summary explained why Venables, who was said to use "sex and pornography as a means of coping", was not deemed safe to be released from jail. Both boys were ordered to be imprisoned until review when they turned 18. Robert Thompson, on the other hand, was not such an easy interview. They went out that day to kill I truly believe that. Eventually, Venables and Thompson placed Bulgers dead body (a forensic pathologist later concluded that he was dead at this point) across the train tracks, in hopes of making the whole thing look like an accident, and abandoned the scene before a train came along and severed the toddler in two. The woman began calling for her son and ran outside, where she found Venables and Thompson beckoning the boy to follow them. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. In addition, they thought that the kidnappers mightve been 13 or 14 years old, which threw them off track. And so Bulger slipped away from safety once again. Learn more about it in the article below. James Bulger was seized and killed by Robert Thompson and his accomplice Jon Venables. 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". His body would be found two days later by a group of horrified teenage boys who were playing in the area. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Most recently, Venables was denied parole in September 2020. But it was ultimately an anonymous phone call to the police that implicated Jon Venables and Robert Thompson as the James Bulger killers. Jon Venables was responsible for a sickening crime that horrified the nation. Venables was given a new identity with a fabricated passport, qualification certificates and medical records. In November 1993, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables became the youngest convicted murderers in British history. A two-year-old James Bulger was kidnapped and killed by the ten-year-old Robert Thompson and his partner Jon Venables. But when she asked another woman nearby to look after her daughter while she did so, that woman refused because her dog did not like children. A woman would recognize one of the suspects, 10-year-old Jon Venables. After bringing in Thompson and Jon Venables for questioning, Phil said: As far as Im concerned that day 20 years ago I stared evil in the face. After a three-week trial, the jury took only five hours to render a guilty verdict for the boys. At some point, for reasons that still remain unclear more than two decades later, Venables and Thompson decided to steal someones child. But unfortunately, their story didnt end in 1993. They went out that day to kill I truly believe that. James Bulgers father Ralph Bulger thinks that if Venables were to be released now, he would be at risk of killing again. But she pulled her curtains and blocked out the scene. Thus it was widely assumed that Thompson was the instigator even though psychiatrists and authorities have never been able to reach a conclusion on the boys motives. After a three-week trial, the jury took only five hours to render a guilty verdict for the boys. Thompson and Venables led Bulger away from the New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle, after his mother had taken her . Officials said: "Mr Venables indicated, through his legal representative, that he was benefiting from ongoing psychological work and did not ask the panel to direct his release or recommend a transfer to open conditions at this stage.". However, Venables was recalled to prison in November 2017 when he was caught with the sickening child abuse images once again. Venables was caged once again in 2010 after being found with a hoard of horrifying child abuse images on his laptop. Due to the national furor surrounding their case, they were both given new identities. As for Venables, he was also born in Liverpool, and just a few days before Thompson, on August 13, 1982. James Bulger was not the first child that the pair tried to abduct. The parole experts cited there would need to be several very strict limitations on Venables and his contacts, movements and activities would need to be limited. While there, he reportedly told his fellow inmates that he was a car thief. 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. 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. 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The next day, police searched the canal where the boys had been earlier in the afternoon because an eyewitness had reported seeing Bulger there. They were remanded to separate maximum security juvenile institutions under aliases, out of fear for their safety. Its not surprising that he may have revealed his true identity, given the enormity of what hes done and the difficulty of coming to terms with that and a new identity,Harry said. They then kicked him, pummelled him with bricks and stones, and stuffed batteries into his mouth. This left her with the impression that he was faking remorse. Robert Thompson and Jon Venables were arrested on February 18, 1993, a little less than a week after the murder. BWP Media via Getty ImagesTen-year-old Robert Thompson, one James Bulgers killers, poses for a mugshot for British authorities on February 20, 1993. Rape survivor slams Gabby Petito Utah cop over handling of her case, 'Dark details' about boyfriend of US swim champ who mysteriously died, Disturbing red flags of Lindsay Clancy's psychosis before she 'killed 3 kids', Mysterious powder swamps US skies as residents report dust-covered cars, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Jon Venables was ten years old when he was arrested for the torture and murder of two-year-old James Bulger, Chilling CCTV shows the moment James was led away from his parents, Venables was jailed for two years in 2010 after he admitted downloading and distributing indecent images of children, James Bulger killer Jon Venables charged over indecent images of children. 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. Now the tide has turned and finally he is facing real prison time where he should have been from the beginning., *Lost Boy: The Killing of James Bulger airs tonight on Channel 5 at 9pm and continues at the same time on Thursday, Get the biggest TV headlines, recaps and insider knowledge straight to your inbox. To this day, the motive still remains unclear. "The reality is that the case for varying the injunction has simply not been made.". What about his mum, will you tell her Im sorry?. James Bulgers, Ralph, father petitioned to have information about Jon Venables publicized. There, they splashed stolen blue paint into Bulgers eyes. After bringing in Thompson and Jon Venables for questioning, Phil said: As far as Im concerned that day 20 years ago I stared evil in the face. Some even saw the older boys punch and kick the two-year-old. Where Are Child Murderers Robert Thompson And Jon Venables Today. 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. 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. I shouldnt have let go of his hand, Fergus later said. 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With Bulgers mother, Denise, momentarily distracted, they got the toddler to come with them. Dr. Ian Cumming, a psychiatrist, talked toIndependentabout the difficulties people with fake identities face when building relationships: So much about peoples interactions with others is built on trust, and if what youre doing and who you are is not really correct than thats quite a strain on the individual. 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.". The lawyer, representing Ralph and his brother Jimmy, told a court on May 2 that the original injunction granted to Venables was on the basis that he was rehabilitated and did not re-offend. In 2008, The Netline reports that Venables was arrested following a bar fight at a local pub. But this wouldn't be the only time Venables would have a brush with police. 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. In 2006, reports claimed Thompson was in a stable gay relationship at age 23 and had settled well into his local community in the North West. Nine months later, the trial began. Thompson and Venables eventually arrived near a railway track in Walton. "Mr Venables had also experienced difficulties relating to employment. Venables and Thompson abducted James from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside before brutally torturing and murdering the tot and left his body by a railway line. Finally, discover the story of Mary Bell, the 11-year-old who killed toddlers and got off light. A source told the paper that Venables told the panel and his probation officer he doesn't even want to be freed. ", 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.. Harry Fletcher, a probation officers union official, talked toIndependentabout Jons difficulty with keeping his identity secret. Lawyers working for him were paid 8,100 in legal aid, with government lawyers working on the case costing an additional 57,300. The computer was taken away and 57 indecent images of children over a 12-month period were found. They first attempted to lure a three-year-old girl and her two-year-old brother away from their mother. In September 2008 he was arrested on suspicion of affray after a drunken brawl outside a nightclub and was given a formal warning by the probation service. 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. 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