susan venables pictures

She would arrive at the secure unit with food parcels and is said to be proud of his achievements since the crime. His father, thin and balding, had a much gentler edge. Kids fantasise about such things. That's the thing that upsets me because obviously, where I was standing poor little James must have been not far . By now the Venables were reunited as a result of the court case. On one occasion, he said, Robert ran off down the street laughing, "You can't catch me". si fs. Neil had been laid off in the months prior, so the couple sold their home, and Neil moved back in with his father, before finally relocating to an apartment in Kirkdale. Some people thought they were as old as 12 or 13, but when they met they were both only 10 years old. I would get him something like a cartoon.". Every day the public gallery was packed with students, pensioners, mothers, teenagers, all drawn to the courtroom spectacle as to a TV soap. This time we came together in shock and disbelief. as he was known in court - Jon Venables. They pair was ordered to be detained at her majesty's pleasure - meaning indefinitely - but in 2001, a six-month review by the parole board found they were no longer a threat to public safety and they were released on life licence after serving just eight years. "My heart really goes out to them. The detective explained how, before she left, she soothed him, told him his parents would love him whatever he told the police, reminding him that Denise neededto know what had happened to her baby. his mother was told that it was important that she stayed in his life and stood by him. "'It wasnt fair to interview him. Channel 5 is set to air a new two-part documentary that tells the definitive story of . When you have got people in the area threatening to blow your kneecaps off every moment of the daythats just the way they are. 2023 BBC. While, on the face of it, there doesnt appear to be as much external devastation present in Jons family history as in Roberts, his outlandish behavior suggested that internally, Jon was in a state of extreme emotional upset. The base of the dock floor at Preston Crown Court had to be raised 18 inches so each boy could see over it. "I don't think we went wrong as parents at all. It was not until much later, when questioned as to his involvement in the death of James Bulger, that Roberts resentment towards the new baby became suddenly and painfully apparent. He said he was frightened of Robert's older brother. A parole board ruled that Thompson and Venables were no longer a threat. While both boys may have felt helpless and inferior in their own settings, together they were fearless, a portrait of machismo, each playing on the others strong points. "He fell over," was the response. "He is easily led. football, snooker, things like that. I am providing this page for those who are interested in learning more about the lives of these boys prior to their offense. She remained very frightened and felt that she and her son were the most hated people in the country. Were they to blame? 'I think it has something to do with a hatred of vulnerability and babyness in themselves which they projected on to this toddler.'. Susan seemed happy with the arrangement, although, for the children, this type of relationship would have been just one more confusing anomaly to cope with in the wake of an already confusing time in their young lives. 'When the fisticuffs ended, they made friends.' Shame? however, as the incident in the playground shows, the ever-present threat of discovery cast a constant shadow over anyone related to the two murderers. Susan Venables Facebook: susan.venables.9 Lives in Mellor, Blackburn With Darwen, . Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. That seems the very least they could face for what they did. I thought he was all right, Jon said of Robert during his police interviews. Robert always wanted to stay out late and encouraged Jon to join him. Mrs Venables said: "He mentions James, not all the time. It was high- lighted by the trial judge Mr Justice Morland who said they must take moral responsibility for the terrible actions of the young killers. Mrs Thompson said she was so often called to Walton Lane police station to retrieve her truanting son that they should have given her a job there. Mrs Venables has also said that she felt. Robert would give Jon presents of stolen objects: trolls, of course, toy terrapins, sweets. Mr Venables ran out of the car and grabbed him, while Robert ran off down the street laughing and shouting: 'You can't catch me.'. At the end of the street a mesh wire frame coverered the window of the money lenders. Jon was slim in build and taller than Robert, just over five feet. Little Bobby went to visit his brothers every so often, eager to show them the latest playthings he had robbed from the assorted shops nearby. By now, Robert had also stepped comfortably into the role of the aggressor, and, following in the footsteps of his elder brothers, began tormenting his eight-year-old brother on a daily basis. Online Marketing For Your Business NEIL Venables was warned by friends not to let his son play with the other boy. However, given that the tension in the household was persistent throughout the most crucial of Jons formative years, the belief that he had moved through the ordeal entirely unaffected is questionable. "He is easily led. When the court was played Jon's taped descriptions of how they had truanted they simultaneously smiled. Ann, desperate to escape the physical and emotional torment of living with her drunken father, was married to Robert, Sr. in December 1971, on the day of her eighteenth birthday. It's high time they were investigated. His response couldn't have been more different as he sank into the oversized blazer he was wearing. She was a woman as large in personality and physique as the burdens she carried. He liked to spend the weekend on the streets. The appearance in court this week of Venables, now a 35-year-old man, on charges of possessing indecent images of children, was a jarring reminder that, still a quarter of a century on, his rehabilitation is more an ambition than a reality. ", Her husband, Neil, said: "If you had a league table of children, you would put him at the bottom of the list for anything like this.". Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, both 10, murdered him in cold blood. Counsel for the prosecution, Richard Henriques QC, made it clear all three elements needed to be proved for a murder conviction. On November 24, 1993, the two boys, by then aged 11, became the youngest defendants to be sentenced for murder in a British court. Express. Architect Shahed Saleem in the Ramadan Pavilion 2023 at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. . Susan Venables is on Facebook. He appears to be a normal human, but inside the soft flesh there is indestructable metal. Why would I want to kill him? he said, referring to the slain toddler. Although he appeared to have the more stable upbringing of the two boys, there was a history of family problems. More press conferences, terrible details beginning to emerge about the state James was found in, and the chilling prospect, soon confirmed, that indeed it was children who had done this. 'I don't know,' he replied. Venables was caught with 1,170 indecent photos of children on his laptop, the Old Bailey was told. Their age was hard to gauge from the CCTV images, so just when you imagined you couldnt be more shocked by this story, it emerged the two accused were just 10-years-old. When social workers came round, they did so to see his sister and his brother, who had learning difficulties and was receiving special education. One of the focal points of the local community was QD Videos at the bottom of Robert's street, where the kids would browse through the horror stacks, discussing their favourites knowledgeably. Reporters from around the world ended up in the drab streets of Walton, cadging interviews off any 10-year-old boys hanging around in the streets. Denise was in court that day. Big Bobby, like Anns father, was a violent alcoholic, who was easily crossed. Thompson admitted nothing. He used to be bullied by other children for being so behind, and would return home at night visibly upset. I cant believe people find excuses for these murderers. 'The attitude when you live where we live is that you have to be tough or else you don't survive,' she said. Once they went into a home decoration shop and hid under a pile of carpets. On the days he was at school he had a knack for stirring things up. Once the jury retired, so did the journalists - but we didnt go far. They would sneak out during the morning break, hiding behind a wall before the coast was clear. See that cell. Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, Why Trudeau is facing calls for a public inquiry, The shocking legacy of the Dutch 'Hunger Winter', Why half of India's urban women stay at home. They did. Grainy CCTV footage shows them walking James away from the Strand . Bird Pictures. Hes your son., Unhappily, it was during this critical time that Ann became pregnant with her seventh child, the product of another failed relationship. Venables received a 40-month prison sentence after appearing via video link at the Old Bailey. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (second left) and Scottish Secretary Alister Jack (second right) during a visit to the Port of Cromarty Firth, Invergordon, during a two day visit to Scotland to highlight the benefits of remaining in the United Kingdom as he seeks to counter Nicola Sturgeon's push for independence, King Charles reacts as he visits the Aboyne and Mid Deeside Community Shed in Scotland, There are only a handful of images of Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, 'Jon was weak and was provoked': Parents of Jamie Bulger killers speak, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off & extra perks with Booking.com Genius Membership, $6 off a $50+ order with this AliExpress discount code, 10% off selected orders over 100 - eBay discount code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK March 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this March, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. David Sharrock, Maggie O'Kane, and Edward Pilkington look at the lives of the rebels who turned to killing, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. He didn't want to hurt James. Egypt. The press were gobbling it up. Born on August 13th, 1982, Jon was the middle child of Neil and Susan Venables. Good people asked the boys if they were lost or urged them to take "their baby brother" home as he cried for his mummy. The best instincts led hundreds, including me, to lay flowers a few days later at the site of James horrific end. Susan, aged 36, a sharp woman . Then they would hide their school satchels under a subway and set off on their adventure. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. INSIDE the court sat the two boys, dwarfed by the weight and majesty of the place. In all, they played truant four times. They were drawn to one another quickly. Susan Venables, mother of Jon - referred to throughout the trial as Boy B - blamed her son's 'weakness' for the murder of James Bulger, and said he was going through torment. Following the arrest of their sons it was reported that the mothers of the boys had been attacked and vilified in. Half way through the 1992-1993 school year, Robert had already racked up nearly 50 unauthorized absences, and was falling significantly behind in his schoolwork. "You look at him and you say to yourself, 'How could you be involved in anything like this?'" 'In this state it is quite painful to see a normal relationship between mother and child. Given the Venables family history, it was later suggested that Jon could arguably have been affected by an undiagnosed disorder at the time, and was clearly emotionally underdeveloped. Our feelings haven't changed towards him. It is about a Good Guy doll invaded by the spirit of a mass murderer who kills people in gruesome ways. She said that Jon was always "loving, caring, thoughtful and considerate . Thompson did what he often did, looked around, grabbing clumsily at his tongue. Get the biggest TV headlines, recaps and insider knowledge straight to your inbox. At night, for instance, the two boys would lie in bed together and suck each others thumbs. She said an educational psychologist had diagnosed hyperactivity in her son, who was bullied at his previous school. Mr Venables said that the two boys had played truant together four times before, adding that he caught them twice. The toddler's mum Denise Bulger was at the counter of a butchers in the Strand shopping centre in Bootle, Liverpool, on February 12, 1993, when she briefly let go of her son's hand to get some change from her purse. Scores more watched proceedings from a neighbouring office block which, for the duration of the trial, came under court jurisdiction. 'I sat away from him - he caused trouble,' Jon said. The James Bulger murder View gallery Venables was born on August 12, 1982. Then between 1990 and 1991, Jons teachers recognized a dramatic change in the boys behavior, which was alarming enough for one of his teachers to begin keeping a daily log. View the profiles of people named Susan Venables. On Monday night's documentary, Robert Thompson's solicitor Dominic Lloyd said: "Many years after the trial a juror said 'we found them guilty of murder but we didn't have the option to find them guilty of being two very bewildered and frightened little boys who made an awful mistake and need a lot of help'.". Toddler James Bulger disappeared on February 12 1993. She was living in secrecy but always felt that she was walking around with a huge sign: mother of Bulger killer, above her head. .". The experience gave Jon renewed confidence, and the second time they sagged off together he suggested it. Celestial. I have cried for JamesBulgermany times, so God only knows the tears his parents and family have shed. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Other parents came in to complain about attention seeking. Directly in front of the bench was the raised dock in which Thompson, Venables, and two social workers would sit for the next four weeks. "I think my son's concentration wasn't the way it should have been, but he wasn't slow. As their sweet voices rang around the courtroom, Venables hid his face in his oversized blazer and cried. 'In my opinion he was victimised. He wore his dark hair short, almost a crew cut, which accentuated his ample forehead and blunt nose. To be absolutely accurate, she had only one illusion. Nine months later, I was one of 30 or so journalists inside Preston Crown Court when the trial began. But curiosity drew him towards Robert in equal measure. And now The Bulger Killers: Was Justice Done? Thompson & Venebales. Venables, who was said to have been subjected to regular beatings by his mother Susan, titled the drawing 'My Dads house'. But his comment sparked anger from viewers. It emerged that the Venables family had suffered the same fate in another area. Jon's first year after he was moved was relatively successful. fun to be with". What a horror it all was. Jon was also mad on computers. Few will ever forget the chilling footage of two 10-year-old boys holding a toddler's hand as they led him to his death. The couple, who are living together again after a partial separation, said their feelings towards Jon had not changed despite the terrible crime. Teachers later reported that whereas the boys were manageable when separated, together their behavior worsened dramatically. Ann Thompson and Susan and Neil Venables didn't need to imagine. They looked, moved, fidgeted, scratched, cried - even sucked their thumbs - just like any 11-year-olds. He carried books on wrestling and wildlife in his school bag. A newsroom reporter who was not working on the case fended off transatlantic interview demands, saying that it was not enough that he had a Liverpool accent. Click here to find personal data about Susan Venables including phone numbers, addresses, directorships, electoral roll information, related property prices and other useful information. The two bumped into each other - literally - in the school playground in the middle of a fight. Shed never been back but she clearly missed Liverpool and had tried to recreate the city in her new home, he recalls. 'When you have got people in the area threatening to blow your kneecaps off every moment of the day - that's just the way they are. Look at mine. According to the teacher, Jon would rock back and forth in his desk, making strange noises (this behavior was later speculated to be Jons jealous attempt to emulate his elder brother, in order to receive the same special attention), bang his head on the desk or walls repeatedly, glue bits of paper all over his face, wedge himself in between desks, throw himself on the ground, throw chairs across the corridor, rip projects off the classroom walls, cut holes in his socks, and intentionally cut himself with scissors. 'We have never really been apart,' Mrs Venables said. One woman asked how James had injured his forehead. He has never really been what you would call a sagger off school (a truant). The end of the court case was not the end of course. The fathers of both Robert and Jon were without work. she said. Verdict day came. Venables served seven years of a life sentence for the 1993 murder before he was freed in June 2001, aged 18. "On the other hand, you are looking at him and you are saying 'Well, I know why - because he is so weak'. Born on August 13th, 1982, Jon was the middle child of Neil and Susan Venables. Robert had eaten too many and felt sick. Financially, the couple appeared to be functioning, but meanwhile, Susan was at the end of her rope with her eldest son, who, having become increasingly frustrated at his inability to communicate, had grown terribly unhappy and was having temper tantrums regularly. Since his 14-year-old brother, Phillip , had already tried to stab him, the social services agreed. They would hang around the video shop in Walton Village where the shop girl was pleased to have their company. The two had an aberrant relationship with one another, in the sense that it was almost as though they had never divorced. There was a pattern of bullying, with the older boys picking on their younger brothers down the line. 'America is the land of shopping malls. In Crosbies corner shop Ian, the next oldest to Robert, was able to tot up the shopping in his mind before the cash register rang up the total. He is one of those children that if you told him to put his hand in the fire, he would. Depressed, Ann began drinking heavily and was taking narcotics which caused her to hallucinate. They played a double act towards the children: his mother, Susan, aged 36, a sharp woman with a hawkish look, was the hard one. . James Bulger would now be weeks away from his 23rd birthday. The prosecution, led by Richard Henriques QC, made its case quite simply really, using the journey they took James on to tell the story. He believes these were evil boys. He always had plenty of friends. He also liked to scare old ladies by jumping out in front of their noses. The statement said: "The man formerly known as Jon Venables has been charged with offences relating to indecent images of children and will appear in the Crown Court. The Venables decided to place her with their eldest son, in a school for children with special needs. "It is hard to take in really. Grainy CCTV footage later showed the innocent toddler being led away by Venables and Thompson, who marched the little boy through the streets of Bootle for two miles - a walk that would have taken hours given his size. When he played truant he was scared she would come and find him. Ann Thompson and Susan and Neil Venables didn't need to imagine. The other shops in the area were also armoured with mesh, including the Red Garden chipper where Robert used to pop in with his brothers most nights for a 25p bag of chips. She initially enrolled the two younger children in Broad Square Elementary, but it soon became clear that her daughter was struggling to keep up with the schools curriculum. His mother, Susan, attributed this behavior with peer pressure and hyperactivity, and put him on a special diet, though it did nothing to quell his frequent emotional outbursts. In March 2010, Venables was recalled to prison for downloading and distributing more than 100 images of child abuse. Unemployment levels were more than twice the national average in Walton. Aged 10, he was barely literate. It was to be an adult trial, both boys appearing every day in the full gaze of whoever was in that room, but neither giving evidence directly to the court. . release. The petition, that now has 14,682 signatures, reads: "We want a Public Inquiry into the James Bulger murder case. The most startling moment of the trial came when, in lieu of giving evidence in person, the boys' taped interviews with police - recorded just after their arrest - were played in court. As a result of the incident, Jon's mother decided to move him to another school. WALTON, where they both lived, is, in the jargon of planning, an inner-city urban priority area; neither the best nor the worst the city has to offer. We feel so sorry for him because he must be going through so much torment. On many occasions, Susan was observed physically and verbally assaulting Jon. There, he is terrorising a girl. his killers were just 10 years old and attention focused on their upbringing and dysfunctional home life.

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