Timeline of how justice was done
Feb 1993 James Bulger is snatched from the Strand shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside. His body is found two days later on a railway line. Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, both aged 10, are later arrested. Nov 1993 The pair are convicted of James’ murder at Preston crown court. July 1994 The eightyear sentence set by the trial judge, which was increased to 10 years by Lord Chief Justice Lord Taylor of Gosforth, is increased
RELEASED
Thompson to 15 years by thenhome secretary Michael Howard. October 2000 Lord Chief Justice Lord Woolf reinstates the trial judge’s original tariff, paving the way for their release. Jan 2001 The killers are granted lifetime anonymity and freed the following June. March 2010 Venables is returned to prison after breaching the terms of his release. July 2010 Venables admits child abuse image offences and is jailed for two years. July 2013 Venables is granted parole. Nov 2017 Venables is recalled to prison. Feb 2018 He is jailed for 40 months for possession of child abuse images. Sept 2020 Venables is refused parole. Feb 2022 He starts a new bid for parole.