James Bulger’s mother issues plea as Jon Venables makes bid for freedom

Killer Jon Venables will learn if he can leave prison again at a private parole hearing.

Venables, along with Robert Thompson, was jailed in November 1993 after brutally murdering two-year-old James Bulger. He was released on licence in July 2001, but recalled in 2010 after indecent images of children were found on his computer.

Three years later he was released from prison again. Only to be recalled in November 2017 for the same offence. Now a two-day hearing will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday to see if he can be released again.

Chair of the Parole Board for England and Wales Caroline Corby ruled that proceedings should take place in private, in order to respect a long-standing legal order that bans the public identification of Venables.

In an interview with the Mirror, his mother Denise urged the panel to keep Venables behind bars. She told the newspaper: “I have to have hope. I believe parole bosses will see what this man is capable of, what he could inflict on society.

“If his parole is rejected, we will rejoice. It’s been such a long journey. James deserves that justice.”

Jon Venables most recent parole review came in September 2020. It is thought a decision on his parole would be made two weeks after the hearing takes place.