James Bulger Killer Jon Venables Could Be Freed in Early 2023 Despite Family Fury
Venables’ Dark Past: Twice Convicted, Twice Jailed
Jon Venables and Robert Thompson shocked the world in 1993 by kidnapping and murdering two-year-old James Bulger—both were just ten. Venables, now 40, slipped back into prison twice after his 2001 release under a new identity. He was caught with child abuse images in 2010 and again in 2017.
Parole Board Poised to Grant Venables an Oral Hearing
Sources say Venables has made “positive” progress behind bars, giving him a “strong chance” of freedom soon. A hefty file packed with input from Venables himself, prison staff, and psychiatrists is being reviewed. Given his infamy, an oral hearing is expected—an opportunity Venables can attend in person.
Family Pleads for Justice: “Never See Daylight Again”
Any release early next year would fly in the face of desperate appeals from James Bulger’s family. His father, Ralph, slammed Justice Secretary Dominic Raab, urging him to honour his crackdown promises. “Venables should be at the top of that list and never see daylight again,” he declared.
James’s mother, Denise Fergus, has also been vocal. She begged then-PM Liz Truss last October to keep Venables locked up, warning he remains a threat. Venables hoped to be free by Christmas, but Westminster chaos pushed back the decision by at least three months.
