Jon Venables, who tortured and murdered two-year-old James Bulger in 1993, will have his latest parole bid heard in private, the Parole Board has decided. The ruling comes despite a plea from the victim's mother for the hearing to be held in public.
Parole Board decision
The Parole Board has ruled that Venables' parole hearing will be conducted behind closed doors. This decision follows the mother of James Bulger calling for the proceedings to be open to the public.
Background of the case
Venables was convicted alongside Robert Thompson for the murder of James Bulger in Liverpool in 1993. The case drew widespread public attention, and Venables has remained subject to strict supervision and legal restrictions since his release on parole.
The Parole Board's decision means the latest parole bid will be considered without public access, maintaining the confidentiality that has surrounded Venables' case for decades.
