The Bulger killers: was justice done?

[WannaBeWonderWoman]

Following on from previous thread which was filled.

What would have been the correct way to deal with these little boys who subjected a tiny two year old to protracted agony and unimaginable suffering then?

Interested to know what all the bleeding hearts on here believe should have happened? Whether they attended an adult court and were convicted of murder which they confessed to anyway, was this crueller to them than what they put that child through? They were well treated and even when they were serving their 'sentence' they were protected and given all they wanted (more than they would have got if they'd been in their own homes probably) and had all the help and therapy it was possible to give them. Did they suffer? You could actually argue that they benefitted from killing. They have to live with what they've done, yes, but if they did I find it hard to comprehend that Thompson especially (who came across as the leader in the interviews) can.

The Norwegian case which is often compared to this is nowhere similar IMO. The perpetrators were a similar age to their victim. They were 6 which is almost half the age V&T were and they wouldn't have been tried here anyway. Most importantly that crime was not premeditated or drawn out for hours like the many horrors inflicted on James.

He was the only victim here.

The fact is, none of us know how we would react in any situation unless it actually happens. I remember facing my DSis's violent exDH not long after she'd revealed to me what he'd done to her. I thought I'd want to tear him limb from limb. Instead I just didn't look at him at all and started doing what we'd come to do, help my DSis remove her property from the house. I didn't feel violent at all, he was just not worth it.

And I suspect that's true of most of us. We think we'll feel murderous rage, but actually we don't know how we'd feel.

Er baked sThat’s not what you said the first time. You said you’d “without doubt” murder them - which the experience of other parents suggests you wouldn’t

What’s the point of even saying it anyway? That’s what I mean about the competitive outrage. Stop frothing and actually get your facts right - I never said that.

Chaos, were you saying that you think Denise would know there whereabouts? You think she has been approached by vigilantes?

chaos maybe they just didn’t have the opportunity?

I think she was talking to me strongvegteables

so would the siblings of T&V have new identities,moved away etc??

what about jobs,girlfriends etc would they be told (siblings im on about) the whole thing must be a nightmare to police and a huge cost

That is just feeding the narrative that these two were devil-children who are incapable of reform.

Venables is clearly incapable of reform. There are some people who should be locked up for life and he is one of them. I understand (although don't necessarily agree with) them being released when they were 18 but the minute Venables reoffended in 2010 he should have received a very long sentence. Now he's reoffended it should be a whole life term.

Watching the documentary last night I remember hearing that Venables revealed his identity to a friend back in 2010. I couldn't help wondering about the friend's reaction. I also understand that Thompson's partner knows about his past (I don't know if it's true, only what I've read) and it makes me wonder how anyone could be friends with or the partner of someone who'd committed a crime as serious as that. I know I couldnt'.

They quoted what I’d posted sleeping maybe she is confused because she is frothing so much and needs to calm down

Chaos, were you saying that you think Denise would know there whereabouts? You think she has been approached by vigilantes?

Denise has said this herself in interviews. She has been told who they are and where they are.

susan I have more admiration for her then, for not acting on that information.

I suppose anyone is findable really. It’s probably quite true that Denise gets letters revealing their information. There’s always someone that knows something.

I am actually surprised that no one at the time concluded that V & T had psychiatric issues as in child psychopathy or some other diagnosis. Surely the very nature of their crime puts them outside of normal human behaviour. For example, aside from age, what's the difference between them and Brady or Sutcliffe. They didn't just kill James in the heat of the moment. It was premeditated, took place over a long period of time, there was a string of manipulation and deceit to the public who intervened and even when caught they lied and deflected the attention away from themselves. The whole series of events point to unstable minds and they should have been put in a secure psychiatric unit for violent juveniles.

Sorry strongvegetables - my mistake. I see it was sleepingbunnies who said it.

I remember reading that Denise did find and see Thompson but she was “paralysed by hatred” and couldn’t/didn’t do anything.

temp yes I posted similar up thread. Im sure they would have,I’d be surprised if they wasn’t !

I wonder if there are papers on the findings ?

Two ten year old's are not the same as adult males who murder. Firstly they were caught and did not become serial murderers. They didn't engage in adult relationships/marriage. Sutcliffe had a remarkably stable childhood, Brady was of high intelligence.

Sorry Strong, I must have skimmed over that comment as I flip between this and the shaking hands thread.

Maybe Denise has never sought revenge because she is scared. During last nights interview we were shown that she is actually quite paranoid about V&R coming to her house to "get" as she said her other 3 DC. Her place had 6 CCTV cameras around it. James was killed 25 years ago and she still lives with the fear of them doing it again to her other DC.

Who would officially know their current situation ? Obviously a probation officer, would the Home Secretary or even PM know what they’re doing?

two men/boys

You keep describing them in this way. In what country, even in primitive societies, are 10 yr olds regarded as 'men'? They were nowhere near even starting puberty.

As Blake Edwards (?) said on the programme, would you be happy to be judged by a jury of 10 yr olds?

Can't believe that idiot journalist saying that if 10 year olds are said to know the difference between right and wrong then that translates that 10 year olds could sit on a jury - no it absolutely doesn't - knowing the difference between right and wrong is a world away from being able to tocess numerous pieces of conflicting evidence to assess of someone is guilty or not.

thyme your reading to much in to it. I describe them that way as I was jointly discussing them as boy perpetrators and the men who have been realised.

No need for the frothing love. Take a break

Released**

process assess

Peter Sutcliffe didn't have a relatively stable childhood. His Father was abusive, had no respect for women and flaunted his various mistresses to his poor wife. When she had an affair with a man who showed her respect and kindness, Peters Dad publically shamed her in front of her children. Peters sisters avoided being in a room alone with their Dad from puberty due to his sexualised comments and lechery. Which he also did to his sons girlfriends.

strong it’s a really interesting point though. What happened in between? You don’t go from normal child to premeditated murderer over night. Was there psychopathic tendencies? Was this looked in to? The literature I’ve read points to cruel acts as children, possibly animal killings. Was there any evidence to this type of behaviour ?