James Bulger's killer Jon Venables makes parole bid for release from prison
Jon Venables, one of little James Bulger's killers, has reportedly had his prison release bid referred to a parole board.
Venables and Robert Thompson, who now have new identities, tortured and killed two-year-old James after kidnapping him from a shopping center in Bootle, Merseyside, back in February 1993, according to a report by the Daily Mirror.
While the horror duo was originally detained for life in prison, they were released on license in 2001 and granted new identities. However, 36-year-old Venables was sent back to jail in 2010 and 2017 for reportedly possessing child pornography. As of now, he is serving a 40-month sentence. He crossed the half-way mark in October last year.
That said, the Parole Board confirmed on Friday, that a review of his case had been referred to them. They will now conduct the requested review to determine whether it calls for a hearing to decide if he should be released from custody.
But due to the coronavirus outbreak, there is a suspected monthly backlog of over 1,000 cases yet to be heard by the Board. Hence the board is trying to conduct remote hearings or decide cases "on paper" by looking into documents wherever it is deemed possible and appropriate. However, the board is reluctant to determine cases involving murders, violent and sex offenders, and terrorists without an in-person, face-to-face hearing, and so these will most likely be stuck at the bottom of the pile until things go back to normal.
On the other hand, Venables' case could be decided on paper if the board has no doubt as to whether he should remain in prison. But a conventional hearing would be mandatory if there is any uncertainty, considering the risk Venables poses to the public and whether he should be released, according to PA.
Having said that, even the decision on how to proceed in Venables' case could take several weeks.
Denise Fergus, little James Bulger's heartbroken mother, urged the board in August to deny Venables early release and "finally admit this man is a threat and danger to society." She noted how he had shown "no remorse or any signs of being rehabilitated."
"We can confirm the parole review of Jon Venables has been referred to the Parole Board and is following standard processes," a Parole Board spokesman said. "The job of the Parole Board is to determine if someone would represent a significant risk to the public after release."
"The panel will carefully look at a range of evidence, including details of the original case, and any evidence of behavior change," he added. "A parole review takes place with extreme care and public safety is our number one priority."
The Board has directed the release of 321 prisoners and refused the requests of 1,771 others since the beginning of March. And since the UK went into lockdown on March 23, it has canceled 39 hearings and is currently reviewing 1,700 cases to determine whether it is possible to make a decision on paper or via virtual meeting.
So far, the parole board has made 2,393 decisions on paper and conducted over 200 telephone or video hearings, according to the report.