At trial in 1993, Thompson was painted as the ringleader, leading Venables on at every turn. 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. Archived post. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. No case could tempt me back into court until the bank manager phoned up and said Youd better do some work., Posted: 14th, February 2013 | In: Reviews Comments (4) Almost thirty years on, the images remain indelible: grainy CCTV footage of two-year-old James Bulger being lured away from the Strand shopping centre in Liverpool by two ten-year-old boys, Robert . The scarcely comprehensible, incongruous images of the boys holding identity cards in their police photographs. Venables and Thompson were tried in an adult courtroom by a jury. It's disgusting. Thompson and Venables were 10. "My decision is in no way a reflection on the applicants themselves, for whom there is a profoundest sympathy," he said. They were sent to a young offenders' institute, where they stayed until their release at the age of 18 in 2001. Mr Grieve said the public interest required the prosecution to guard against the very real risk of serious physical harm or death to anyone who might be identified, whether correctly or incorrectly, as being either of the killers. its wild that no matter what crimes venebles goes onto to commit as an adult his identity is protected, putting the general public at risk, surely that protection should end once you enter adulthood and continue to reoffend [deleted] 1 yr. ago 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". Another investigator said Thompson "would cry whenever there would be an awkward situation," to avoid questioning. James Bulger's mother Denise Fergus has said she is "over the moon" after a debate about an inquiry into the two-year-olds murder was confirmed. Venables was brought up well, but he must have had a mental quirk. His dad abandoned the family five years before Bulger's murder - leaving mum Ann devastated. The same path would not apply to his partner in crime, however. Thompson and Jon Venables killed two-year-old James Bulger after abducting him from a shopping centre in Liverpool. ", "I was too frightened to accept any blame myself. It is not yet known where the documentary, James Bulger: The New Revelations, will air in Australia. Then, according to your theory, he raped and murdered a 6-year-old girl. But now Thompson's words are being heard publicly for . The Witnesses Who Did Nothing BWP Media via Getty Images Ten-year-old Robert Thompson, one James Bulger's killers, poses for a mugshot for British authorities on February 20, 1993. Australian News Channel Pty Ltd 2017 - 2023. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Robert Thompson is rumoured to be maybe Sean Walsh of Kilkenny, he supposedly boasted he is the Thompson, but Sean definitely is in prison atm, I read. This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxSpokane, an independent event. Thompson told him 'Sod the gerbils, let's go robbing'. James' family have been contacted to give impact statements, which will be read by the parole board charged with making a decision. Sign up to the Daily Star's newsletter. He was initially detained in 2010 for possessing such images, but then freed in 2013. 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. Robert Thompson was born on August 23, 1982 - the fifth of seven children. 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. Thompson and Venables then disposed of his body on the railroad track to make it appear as though it had been an accident. As for himself, Mr Lee says: Twenty years on I find it more difficult to believe I could have taken on the case now that Ive got three children. The two boys were soon arrested and infamously treated as adults during the subsequent trial. He was informed that he would have to wait two more years before being considered again. The doctors searched for a motivation for the crime, but were unable to find one. Experts described Thompson as an urban feral child who would go truanting for days on end. Venables is now behind bars again after he was jailed for a further two years for downloading and distributing images of children. A freak of nature. Venables was transfixed by him. "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).". There is obviously an irony to this but it is part of my remorseful feelings as well.. TEDx was created in the spirit of TED's mission, "ideas worth spreading." Now 38, It is believed that he is still living in the UK. Charles Bronson's parole everything you need to know about the controversial case. We pay for your stories! Watch They were a match made in hell. The child killer was released from a young offenders institution under licence in 2001 and has not re-offended since. Its about nature and nurture. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Laurence Lee represented Jon Venables. Sir John said that Harkins, a 35-year-old house husband, and Liddle, 28, a graphic designer, had both removed the offending pictures quickly and apologised. Thompson has been free since his release in 2001. Robert Thompson's harrowing revelation years after killing James Bulger as a 10-year-old. Not 100,000 a year of tax to keep him alive! DetectivePhil Roberts was on Merseysides serious crime squad when he got a call at 6am on February 13, 1993, about a two-year-old boy who had gone missing from the New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle. Thompson claimed in his parole statement his life got worse when his parents had another child. I would have been 9 when this happened, and it affected my 29yo mother something fierce (understandably). Liddle and Harkins clearly knew they were posting illegal content, the barrister added, but decided to ignore the legislation. The announcement comes after Raab announced plans which would give him the right to veto the release of dangerous prisoners. Twenty-five years on from the horrific event, the country is still shaken by the actions of the pair, who were only 10 at the time. Venables and Thompson were released in 2001 on life licence after serving eight years for the murder of James who was battered on a railway line. 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. He, Picture 1 of 12. is real & he gets done in. Heartbroken dad issues warning after son, 13, dies in TikTok challenge, Red flag after possible suspect in missing brothers case made eerie request, Two dead and four injured after 19-year-old 'opens fire at prom after party', $80k reward offered for shooting suspect Francisco Oropesa after five killed, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, 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'. They committed the most evil of acts but I said to Venables If you were born in Las Vegas you would probably have ended up in the film industry. And it must also have been about the chemistry of the two of them together.. The police vans being pelted outside the court by incensed protesters. Recently, Denise Fergus received an email from a senior probation official saying that, following her meeting with UK Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary, Dominic Raab, the debate had been agreed and she would be informed when the date was set. According to The Mirror,the program James Bulger: The New Revelations include Thompson sharing his own view of the crime and its aftermath via his parole testimony in 2001. 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. All times AEST (GMT +10). R upert Thomson is listing the authors to whom he has been compared during his career. If its not him, that who would want to be that person? Venables - who now has a new identity - is currently going through a parole bid which if successful could see him released later this year. But now Thompsons words are being heard publicly for the first time, in the form of comments made to a parole board being aired in a new British documentary. He later served as managing editor (2008-13) of The Wall Street Journal before becoming CEO (2013- ) of News Corporation. Robert Thompson, now 36, said he is a "better person" thanks to his years in prison but apologised for murdering the two-year-old. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. He excelled in his academics and began to develop an interest in textiles. Though both were found guilty, they had entered a not guilty plea. Dean Liddle and Neil Harkins were prosecuted by Attorney General Dominic Grieve for snubbing a ban which prevents Jon Venables and Robert Thompson being identified. While he has not reoffended since being released, in the two-part documentary, one of the investigators who questioned Thompson suggested that he was the ringleader of the attack, calling him "street smart" and "switched on". At first glance, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables seemed like two ordinary 10-year-olds. His dad abandoned the family five years before Bulger's murder - leaving mum Ann devastated. ", He also added: "I didnt feel able to give evidence.". 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Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. 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". "Jon Venables and I did not speak to each other at all, as I remember, during the attack," he said. And even by 2000, top child psychiatrist Sir Michael Rutter claimed the risk posed by Venables on his release was "trivial". The Netline reports that Thompson has fully integrated into society and has "built a healthy relationship" inside the community in which he lives. Thompson's just a psycho smart enough to control himself? and our Ralph Bulger has asked courts to overturn his son's killer's lifelong anonymity. "Well," he begins slowly . It is believed Thompson remains in a long-term relationship with a man who knows his real identity. Found inside - Page 149I would like to call Robert Thompson , chairman of the North Dakota Red River Joint Water Management Board , and Mr. Paul Horn , board member , Board of . Deserves a slow & painful death. The system has held up as far as Thompson is concerned he has disappeared back into society without further offending. Wasnt just me I'm sure? 5 revelations from The Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal. These are both great developments, but there is a danger the Justice Secretarys proposal will come too late in the case of Jon Venables. WHAT utter fool published a photo of one of James Bulgers killers, Jon Venables, online?