James Bulger: a murder that shocked Britain

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James Bulger a murder that shocked Britain
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Some responses to the case

• Justice for James
• Angel In Heaven
• BBC news

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"We must condemn a little more, and understand a
little less."

• So said John Major shortly after the murder of
  James Bulger in 1993. He was speaking as prime
  minister, but his sentiments were also those of
  the man in the street.

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When did it happen?

• James Bulger was a month from his 3rd birthday
  when he was abducted, on a whim, and murdered by
  two boys Robert Thompson and Jon Venables (both
  10)
• James went missing while shopping with his mum in
  Bootles Strand Shopping Centre on 12 February
  1993

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How did it happen?

• James was led away from the shopping centre while
  his mother was in a nearby butchers shop
• The picture, captured on CCTV, of James being led
  away by hand became a famous image

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Why werent they stopped?

• After abducting James the boys walked him for two
  and a half miles, kicking and punching him as
  they went
• 38 people saw them, some of whom challenged the
  boy
• They claimed they were looking after their
  younger brother or that James was lost and they
  were taking him to a local police station

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How did James die?

• The boys beat him to death with bricks and an
  iron bar and left his body on a railway line
  where it was discovered 2 days later
• After their arrest and throughout the trail the
  boys were known only as Child A and Child B

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How could two lads playing truant from school,
commit such a crime?

• Had they been influenced by watching horror
  movies?
• Were they the product of growing up in a poor and
  troubled environment?
• Or were they evil, scheming boys who ought to be
  locked up for life?

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What happened to them?

• In November 1993 the boys were convicted of
  murder
• They were named by the trial judge and sentenced
  to secure youth accommodation for at least 8
  years
• In June 2001 they were released on life licence
  and given new, secret identities

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Where are they now?

• An injunction in England Wales bans reporting
  of Thompson and Venables new names and locations
• The ban does not apply in Scotland, or other
  countries, but despite numerous rumours their
  identities have remained secret
• The memory of this case has never faded for
  parents, many of whom now keep their children
  much closer while out on a shopping trip

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Assessment Task

• What was the most important reason for punishing
  the killers of Jamie Bulger?

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What was the most important reason for punishing
the killers of Jamie Bulger?

• Introduction outline the details of the case
• Protection (keep society safe), were the boys a
  threat to society? Did they need protecting from
  themselves?
• Deterrence (put others off doing the same), was
  this a crime that would be copied? Would the 8
  year sentence put people off such behaviour?
• Reform (reform the criminals), were the boys too
  young to know what they had done? Would
  counselling change their behaviour? Could they
  become normal members of society?
• Retribution (society taking revenge), should
  society punish the boys to make them pay for what
  they did? Would this make people feel better?
  Would the boys and others learn from the
  punishment they were given?
• Vindication (law must be upheld), the boys chose
  to break the law so needed to be punished. Might
  others do similar crimes if these boys had gone
  unpunished? Would society work if crimes went
  unpunished?
• Conclusion what do you think was the most
  important reason to punish the boys? (e.g.
  rehabilitation because the boys had made a
  terrible mistake they had to learn from)