12:30pm Monday 15th March 2010
Welcome to the first of News Shopper's new daily opinion columns. Read our rant and join the debate by adding your comments.
WHEN Robert Thompson and Jon Venables were put on trial for the murder of James Bulger in November 1993, the proceedings were notable for several reasons.
They were tried in an adult court, perched on high chairs so they could see out of the dock, away from their parents.
The judge and court officials wore wigs and gowns (in many cases involving juveniles, this formality is dropped) and, outside, 500 protestors screamed for the youngsters’ blood.
At the time, they were referred to as Child A and Child B. After their conviction, they were identified and their photographs released to the press – because the trial judge deemed their identification to be in the public interest. He felt they should not have benefitted from anonymity.
But while the interests of the public were taken into account then, subsequent events have proved the justice system cares not a jot for the wants and needs of you and I.
On their release, millions of pounds was spent protecting the new identities of Venables and Thompson and the media were not allowed to identify them to keep the pair safe.
Venables is back in prison – and still he is being protected. Only a handful of people know his new name.
We spend hundreds of thousands of pounds every year ensuring he is kept safe and snugly, with the occasional mug of tea and a Hob Nob with a probation officer his ‘punishment’ for brutalising a defenceless member of society in the most disgusting way imaginable.
How can our justice system be so out of touch with what the public wants?
Thompson – and particularly Venables, whose licence breach is a firm slap in the chops to every taxpayer in this country – should never have been given new identities.
They served pitifully short sentences and should have been left to take their chances on release.
If they were attacked, then surely the justice system in which we are all supposed to have so much faith would have dealt fairly with the perpetrators.
This column is produced by an independent writer and in no way reflects the official position of News Shopper or its parent company.
What do you think? Should James Bulger's killers have been given new identities and should the justice system continue to protect them? Should the reasons for Jon Venables' return to prison be made public? Add your comments below.
Check News Shopper's website every lunchtime for a new daily opinion column. Tuesday is entertainment, Wednesday is a reader's rant, Thursday will cover a moral issue and Friday is sport. Be sure to have your say if you agree or disagree with what you read.
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