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Should killer’s ID remain a secret?
Reporter: Marina Berry
Date online: 10 March 2010
ONE of James Bulger’s killers, Jon Venables, has been locked up amid wild speculations about new crimes. The Government refuses to comment on the reasons behind the decision to recall Venables (27) to custody for fear of compromising an investigation, as well as any future trial.
The issue has caused a public storm, some backing James’s mother in her claim that Venables should lose his anonymity, others accepting the new identities should remain secret.
Marina Berry asked people in Oldham if they, like James’s mother, believed the rules protecting killers who reoffend should be scrapped.
Irene Knights, of Greenacres, said Venables is entitled to anonymity. She said: “People know what he has done and he would have no life if they knew who he was, he should be protected from the mob.
Pensioner Bryan Cunnane, of Lees, had no sympathy for anonymity. He said: “They should have been hung at the time.
“I knew what I was doing at 10 and they did too. Another 10 years and I was fighting a war. It’s heinous. They didn’t think about poor little James when they dropped a brick on his head, why should they remain anonymous.?”
Sonia O’Brien said it was an incredibly complex issue to manage.
She said she had sympathy with James Bulger’s mother, who must have been shocked to find out from a third party that Venables was back in custody, and said: “She should have been kept informed every step of the way.”
But, she predicted, revealing his identity would result in people taking their law into their own hands and it becoming an “unmanageable situation.”
Christine Lawley, of Chadderton, said she was undecided over the question of anonymity, and feared vigilantes would strike if Venables’s identity was unveiled.
She said: “I’m in a quandary. I don’t like the idea of people taking the law into their own hands, but my personal opinion is those two boys were extremely wicked and evil. At 10 they are old enough to know the difference between right and wrong.”
Chadderton mum Jodie Tinker is the same age as Venables and has a two-year-old daughter. She said: “He should never have got out of prison in the first place.
“Someone who can do such a bad thing has something wrong in their head and there’s nothing to say he won’t do it again. People should know who he is.”
Shaw man Michael Horsfield, said: “They should have locked them up and thrown away the key.
“Their identities should not have been changed. I have a young lad myself and I wouldn’t want someone like that living near by without me knowing who they were.”
Wilfred Lenegan, from Springhead, had a similar opinion: “They shouldn’t have been let out in the first place, and they shouldn’t have had anonymity. When children go to prison at that age they are bound to pick things up,” he said.
Comments
The likes of Straw want this kept quiet and his new crimes suppressed because their wonderful licence system has failed and Venables now has more victims to add to James Bulger.
He has clearly broken his licence with serious breaches so should lose everything he was given....his anonymity, his freedom his luxuries forever.
If he is kept in a secure unit who is going to get at him? Why waste money on another trial if he has broken his licence?
Whoever he is now, he is innocent until he is proven guilty of the new charges. Revealing his new identity compromises that.
Whatever distaste we feel about the man we demean ourselves if we destroy the basis on which our justice system is based.
Why waste money on another trial if he has broken his licence?
Simple, because he's innocent until proven guilty. You must know an awful lot about this case, who are these victims, because to date he hasn't even been charged! Clearly broken his licence? Allegations have been made, that doesn't amount to clearly yet!
Loose talk can cost lives as in the poor man incorrectly identified as Venables has nearly been lynched. please be a bit more responsible.
So far, we don't know what breach, if any has occurred. There are allegations but, as yet, these have not been proven. Who could possibly benefit from knowing his identity? If guilty of an offence, Venables will be punished, possibly more harshly than others because of his past. If not guilty, he should be able to go free under the original licence terms, with his new identity intact. If not, he'll be at the mercy of idiots who don't know the difference between paediatrician & paedophile.
his id should be revealed like the saying what goes around comes around why should he get a new identity when other murderes dont whats good for 1 is good for the other then people will know to keeep there kids away changing his name is putting other kids at risk i dont care what any 1 says he had like of luxury in prison and did when he got out but yet others dont i hope he does get whats coming to him
I have to say that murderers (especially those who commit such extreme violence in the act) should never be conidered for release.
Why waste money on another trial if he has broken his licence?
Simple, because he's innocent until proven guilty. You must know an awful lot about this case, who are these victims, because to date he hasn't even been charged! Clearly broken his licence? Allegations have been made, that doesn't amount to clearly yet!
Loose talk can cost lives as in the poor man incorrectly identified as Venables has nearly been lynched. please be a bit more responsible.
I think he should be locked up for the rest of his miserable life.What he did doesnt bear thinking about and the do gooders of this world might feel very differently if it was a member of their family who had been murdered in such a brutal way. I feel so sad for the mother of James who has to have all this brought up again and again,we live in such a stupid country with pathetic laws that allow this kind of thing to happen.I want justice for the family,they are the only people who matter.
Have Your Say
All this speculation is meaningless, he hasn't even been charged yet let alone put on trial! It's cost a fortune to put anonimity in place, should it just be thrown away?
Consider the consequences of revealing his identity, probably police protection 24/7, I for one don't want to pay for that.
My favorite quote: "We should have hung them when they were 10 Killing children is wrong and should be punished by death."
I'm sure that the irony of it will be lost on some however.
By Flake @ 10/03/2010 13:34:48