Jon Venables: England's youngest murderer ever applies for early release

TW: mentions of crime, violence

It is probably a crime that sent the whole world into shock at the time. Jon Venables, England's youngest murderer, went down in history with his offence. According to Bild, he also possessed child pornography in his later life.

Life in prison

The application for release had already been granted and Venables was preparing intensively for his appointment. A friend of the murderer reportedly told The Sun that he was 'confident with his last chance at freedom'.

The talk of a last chance comes as a change in the law in England is being planned by early 2024 that will 'remove the right of repeat offenders in prison to appeal and be released early'.

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England's youngest murderer

Thirty years have passed since Jon Venables and his friend Robert Thompson made England's criminal history. The two were just ten-year-old primary school pupils when they skipped school in 1993 and went looking for their victim.

In a shopping centre near Liverpool, the two stole 'sweets, batteries, a doll and blue spray paint' and then met two-year-old James Bulger.

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Lured with sweets

James' mother only let her little son out of her sight for a moment and he was kidnapped. Meanwhile, the two murderers were already on their way with the toddler to Walton, five kilometres away, where they laid him on the railway tracks to be beheaded by a train.

Both perpetrators received life sentences at the time, but when they came of age, they were released in 2001 with new identities. However, Venables did not take advantage of this second chance and was caught years later in possession of about 1000 videos and images of child pornography.

Child killer wants freedom

In 2018, the child killer was finally sent to prison for another three years. Now Venables is aiming to be released by Christmas 2023, with his hearing due to take place in the next few weeks.

Venables' accomplice Thompson continues to live inconspicuously at liberty, he said. In 2010, Venables already applied for early release, but it was rejected, according to The Sun.

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This article has been translated from Gentside DE.

Sources used:

Bild: 'Englands jüngster Mörder will raus aus dem Knast'

The Sun: 'CHILD KILLER Where is Jon Venables now?'