Venables’ ex-lawyer: Unmask him, he’s had enough chances
Anonymity ‘wasted’ on deviant now back in jail
JON Venables’ own lawyer has backed a call for the killer’s stateprotected anonymity to be lifted, saying: “He’s had his chance.”
Laurence Lee represented Venables when he and Robert Thompson, both then 10, were tried for the 1993 murder of James Bulger.
He says the anonymity given them as they were released on licence in 2001 is “wasted” on Venables, now jailed over sick child images – his second such offence in seven years.
Mr Lee said: “I have every sympathy with the Bulger family. If I were in their shoes I’d be clamouring as loudly as they are for his anonymity (to end).
“He’s had his chances, he’s committed two very, very serious sets of offences and anonymity has been wasted on him, a lot of people would say.”
James’ dad Ralph, 51, is bringing a High Court bid to unmask Venables, 35.
He claims giving Venables a new identity has been a “failed experiment”. After Venables was jailed for 40 months on Wednesday for having child abuse images and a “paedophile manual”, Ralph said: “Let’s just make sure there are no more victims.” But any challenge is likely to be hindered by the fact Venables still gets death threats 25 years after three-year-old James’ death in Bootle, Merseyside. Mr Lee said: “If there was no anonymity we would be returning to the mob rule scenes that we faced outside Bootle juvenile court in February 1993. “That’s why in all probability his anonymity will not be lifted but I have every sympathy for anybody who says that it should be.” Mandy Waller, the police family liaison officer to James’ parents, also told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “It’s very doubtful it will be lifted. They’re going to take the view they have to safeguard Venables, which is sad really.”