Jon Venables, one of the killers of two-year-old James Bulger, could be freed from prison within weeks after his latest parole hearing concluded. Judges are now weighing his bid for freedom following a hearing held in private, the Daily Star understands.
The family of murdered toddler James Bulger wanted to "look in the eyes" of his killer as they fought against his release. However, parole chiefs decided the hearing would be held in private amid fears for his safety.
Family's Reaction to Parole Bid
The child killer, now 44, faces a two-week wait to learn his fate. A family insider said: "He showed no remorse. He never will.
"He plays a game and nothing more - I hope they see through him and keep him locked up. Until the day he dies, that monster will be that - a monster. He is not human."
James's devastated parents were only allowed to watch the proceedings on a delayed feed so justice chiefs could ensure nothing was said or done that could let his new identity be released. They were able to have their evidence taken into account but were not given the opportunity to face their son's murderer in person.
Venables' Criminal History
Venables, who tortured and murdered James in 1993 when he was 10 himself, had his case heard at an oral hearing more than two years after his previous appeal in central London. He was released on licence in July 2001 but was recalled to prison in February 2010 after indecent images of children were found on his computer. He was later freed a second time for the same offence in 2017.
The Parole Board rejected his 2023 bid for freedom, ruling he was a danger to children and could go on to reoffend.
Upon news of the recent parole bid, James's family said they had written to the Parole Board and asked to have their say on the impact he has had on their lives, saying they believe he should "rot" for the rest of his life behind bars.
Family's Determination
A source close to the family said: "The crime may have been done 30-odd years ago, but for us it feel like yesterday. This case has dominated our lives, and this monster in particular will just not go away.
"It is clear he has not rehabilitated. Just look at his record. He isn't 'getting better'. He is a cancer to society and deserves to rot in prison until he dies.
"We will do everything in our power to make sure that happens. We will not give up. It does not matter how many years ago it happened. We will be a voice for James."
Upcoming Decision
It is now expected that psychiatric reports, prison reports and testimony from Venables himself will be weighed up by top parole chiefs to decide what should happen next. A summary hearing is expected within two weeks. If a bid for parole is deemed acceptable, Venables could be out of prison in time for Christmas.
Venables and Robert Thompson, also 10, snatched toddler James from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, in February 1993. The pair led the toddler out of the Strand shopping centre while his mum Denise Fergus was paying for shopping at a butchers.
Thompson and Venables led James two and a half miles to a railway track where they beat him to death with bricks and a metal bar. James's body was found two days later on a railway line. He had been stripped from the waist down, and paint had been thrown in his eyes.
The case horrified the nation. The boys were given lifelong anonymity orders and new identities. But Venables has stayed in the news all these years. In February 2010 Venables was recalled to prison after indecent images of children were found on his computer and he breached his parole conditions by visiting Merseyside. In August 2013 he was released again with a second new identity. In November 2017 he was recalled again, and in February 2018 he was jailed for three years and four months for possessing child abuse images.
Venables had an application to be freed rejected in 2020 following an assessment of his case, and in December 2023 parole officers ruled not to release him because he continued to pose a danger to children and could go on to offend again. Robert Thompson, unlike Jon Venables, is not known to have reoffended since his release. The decision is expected imminently.
