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Original poster

C4 now - the James Bulger case **Trigger Warning - Contains Info about the case** (Title edited by MNHQ)

999 replies

Hairgician · 05/02/2018 21:36

Sat watching this now.

I do not accept the view that those 2 boys were treated unfairly. They murdered that poor little boy and they knew what they were doing and that it was wrong.

They should be rotting in jail. Aibu to say justice not served??

OP posts:
babyccinoo · 05/02/2018 22:56

On their own, they probably wouldn't have done it, but it was like 'perfect storm' of personalities coming together. Like the Columbine pair.

Thierryhenryneedisaymore · 05/02/2018 22:57

Bashstreetkid,

How on earth do you know that Thompson is a respectable member of the community?

So, because he has not (we assume - it is far from confirmed) been before the courts again since his release, you know he is a respectable member of the community?

There are all manner of people breaking the law every day and never being caught / arrested/charged/ prosecuted, some for heinous crimes, some for minor crimes. For many different reasons. Many a law enforcement officer would be able to recount stories which would horrify you.

But you prefer the lazy approach, that doesn't require much thinking -

"Oh, so we have not heard anything more about him, he must be a totally respectable member of the community".

Absolutely ridiculous.

Amateur psychology at its worst. Don't give up the day job.

You are embarrassing yourself.

ZanyMobster · 05/02/2018 22:57

Totally agree SuperBeagle. However proper rehabilitation is required, not a half hearted effort that apparently Venables and Thompson received.

Aeroflotgirl · 05/02/2018 22:57

It's evident that their upbringing is not the only factor responsible, but something disturbing within their personality and psyche.

Sidelook · 05/02/2018 22:57

There was horrendous sibling torture in one home. You can't say all 10 year olds know right from wrong, it's just incorrect.
I had a similar childhood to this, I lived with it everyday and so did my siblings. It has messed me up enormously and my mental health is fragile. But even at ten and having witnessed constant violence and violence being metered out, I can say that I absolutely did not want to go out and murder a toddler. It’s bollocks to cite their background as an excuse!

bastardkitty · 05/02/2018 22:58

I find Kelvin Mackenzie truly horrific. He stirs up stupid and hatred.

notwonderwoman · 05/02/2018 22:58

Such an upsetting case all round.
My mind still can't make sense of what happened to him or what drove those boys to do it. Did they ever make any attempt to show remorse or write letters to Jamie's parents ? we will never know why they did it. It's not like they'll ever be interviewed as adults and certainly as children they didn't explain their actions.
Poor Denise and Ralph.
RIP little James.

Lilacblue99 · 05/02/2018 23:00

@BashStreetKid oh please! Get a grip.
You should be ashamed of yourself.

Emabrmsca · 05/02/2018 23:00

These 10 year olds were fucking disgusting, evil, twisted bastards. They dragged a 2 year old for 2.5 miles, whilst he was crying and asking for his mummy. They tortured him, they didn't accidentally kill him, they knew everything they were doing was causing a 2 year old agony. Can you honestly imagine your own child at 2 years old being put through this and then thinking the punishment for the killers was fair enough?? I know I sure couldn't. I would want them dead to be quite honest or at the very least put away in an adult jail forever.

MelanieSmooter · 05/02/2018 23:00

It’s a tough one but they were a product of their environment, an environment not a million miles away from the one little Janes was being raised in I have heard.

Now that is possibly the most abhorrent post I’ve ever read in MN, and I’ve read a lot of shit. Shame on you indeed.

Cronuts · 05/02/2018 23:00

@bashstreetkid had inside info apparently as they know that Thompson is a reformed, law abiding character and also that both him and venables were victims of serious abuse. Funny that considering the only public reports of their childhood situation only identifies low level neglect Confused

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 05/02/2018 23:01

No one is citing their background as an excuse

It’s reasoning as to what led them to commit such crimes

Lilacblue99 · 05/02/2018 23:01

@notwonderwoman no they didn't. They blamed his mum for letting go if his hand.

SuperBeagle · 05/02/2018 23:01

Why is Mary Bell never spoken of? No one seems to think she should've been locked up for life, and no one calls her evil/disgusting/sick etc.

It's always Venables and Thompson.

Tapandgo · 05/02/2018 23:01

I’m not sure our legal system has ever got right the balance between justice V revenge, punishment V rehabilitation. It’s most noticeable when sentences are passed on some criminals, some people still hope they get additional primitive jailhouse justice from other criminals added in to the mix. Likewise, some people want Venables and Thompson’s identities to be public so they can be ‘sorted out’ by vigilantes. Heaven help us all if we hand over our justice system to baying mobs and vigilantes.

So very very sad what happened to Jamie and to his family. So very wrong that families managed to raise boys capable of murdering another child.

BakedBeans47 · 05/02/2018 23:02

It’s dreadful.

On paper do I think 8 years was a long enough sentence for a crime of that magnitude? No.

BUT. They were children. To have locked them up for life would have been sending the message that this society was prepared to give up on children. I don’t think that’s great.

babyccinoo · 05/02/2018 23:02

Babyccinoo - do you actually know this? I am not being funny by asking this, I am genuinely intrigued. I am referring to those reports discussed by Ralph Bulger in his book.

Zany I read the police reports and reports from the child psychologists who treated the boys and who spoke in court. It was a few years ago so I am relying on my memory I'm afraid. I think they're still available online but I don't think I can ever read them again.

Regardless I don't think it is an excuse, my DH suffered terrible abuse as a young child and at 10 he still would not have done anything like this. I know it is not black and white of course.

So sorry to hear about your DH, glad he has overcome it.

Cronuts · 05/02/2018 23:04

It's pretty clear that people would rather look for a "reason" such as the tough life than accept that sometimes people, even children are capable of depravity, cruelty and wickedness.

It's not an easy thought for anyone but the proof is there.

BashStreetKid · 05/02/2018 23:05

Cronuts, when did I say that I felt great sympathy for these two? Like a number of people on this thread, I utterly hate what they did, but I equally hate the mindset that says you must ignore their seriously abusive childhoods and the fact that they were not brought up to have any sort of moral compass, and lock up children to "rot in jail" for the rest of their lives.

I equally did not say that you had suggested that the only criterion for sentencing was your apparent view that it is inevitable that someone like these two would offend again. Nevertheless, your post indicated that you thought it was certainly one factor.

Aeroflotgirl · 05/02/2018 23:05

I totally agree with you Ema, it breaks my heart think of my kids being treated like that, especially at James very young age. Scared, frightened, in considerable pain, wanting his mummy. They shoukd have been incarcerated indefinitely, especially Venables, he's had too many chances. He's not remorseful at all, nasty disgusting individual.

ZanyMobster · 05/02/2018 23:05

Thanks Babyccinoo - I am not sure I could read them to be honest but maybe one day I will.

DH has good times and bad times but I think it is you're typical thing of thst the same thing can happen to 2 people and 1 takes 1 path and the other a totally different one so maybe he was lucky.

babyccinoo · 05/02/2018 23:06

babyccinoo - I did not realise that re telling people, I am quite shocked that is the case TBH. Presumably only people they are living with though and not employers, friends (with children) etc?

Yes, they are not allowed to disclose their real identity to everyone. Thompson had no problem with this, but Venables has revealed his identity times, and had to be given new a new identity.

Enidthecat · 05/02/2018 23:09

Just because someone hasn't 're offended or been caught doesn't make for respectable in my book.

If you've killed a child there's no coming back from it for me. It makes me feel physically sick.

Evenbetter · 05/02/2018 23:10

People saying child torturers and murderers need ‘compassion’ can fuck all of the way off.

James’ mother has asked a few rimes that people not refer to her son as Jamie, his name was James.

ZanyMobster · 05/02/2018 23:10

Yes this was mentioned in the book re Venables. It a real surprise that he was released from prison the 2nd time given everything.