Jon Venables, the killer of James Bulger, will face a parole hearing next month in the race before Attorney General Dominic Raab bans the release of dangerous repeat offenders
Jon Venables has reportedly received a parole hearing ahead of legislation that could prevent him from ever being released.
The infamous killer – given an indefinite sentence when he was 10 for the 1993 torture and murder of two-year-old James Bulger – could appear before a parole board as early as next month, The sun reports.
A source told the publication, “An oral hearing would mean Venables is one decision away from being released. James’ family is shocked at the prospect.”
Venables was released from prison in 2001 at age 18 and given a new identity, but ended up in prison again in 2010 and 2017 over child sex charges.
He was last denied parole in 2020. The killer is currently serving a 40-month prison sentence and passed half last October.
The notorious killer – given an indefinite sentence when he was 10 for the 1993 torture and murder of two-year-old James Bulger – could appear before a parole board as early as next month
James’ father, Ralph, said at the time: ‘If Venables walks around a free man now that we’ve lost our beautiful boy for 30 years, it would be the ultimate betrayal’
Attorney General Dominic Raab is expected to make a recommendation to parole officers to keep Venables behind bars, citing an ongoing threat to the community.
But a hearing would also take into account advice from prison chiefs, victim impact statements from James’s parents and other factors.
The Venables legal team hopes to move forward quickly with any future parole hearings as Mr Raab aims to get his victim bill through parliament by Easter.
The bill would allow ministers to block the release of a criminal from prison with a ‘two strikes and you’re in’ policy.
It would mean that someone who commits a serious crime while already on parole would never be released.
In addition, ex-police officers would be placed on parole boards in an effort to introduce a more “precautionary approach.”
Under the package, victims will be given the right to fully attend Parole Board hearings and ask questions about an offender’s eligibility for release.
Attorney General Dominic Raab is expected to make a recommendation to probation officers to keep Venables behind bars, citing an ongoing threat to the community
Venables and his co-perpetrator Robert Thompson were both 10 years old when they abducted, tortured and murdered little James on Merseyside in 1993.
Venables and his co-perpetrator Robert Thompson were both 10 years old when they abducted, tortured and murdered little James on Merseyside in 1993.
The crime sent shock waves through the community and both boys were jailed indefinitely.
The Minister of Justice would keep a very close eye on the matter.
However, there were rumors that Venables would have received a parole hearing in late 2022 ‘Westminster unrestprevented him from securing a pre-Christmas parole hearing, sources said at the time.
Under current law, Venables was entitled to another parole hearing within two years of his last bid in September 2020.
James’s father, Ralph, said at the time, “If Venables walks around a free man now that we lose our beautiful boy for 30 years, it would be the ultimate betrayal.”
His mother Denise Fergus also urged the government to block Venables’ release claiming he is “still a danger.”