The Student Room Group

Why were James Bulger's killers released?

Call me old-fashioned, but do you think there are some crimes that we should consider unforgiveable? There seems to be an attitude that suggests anyone who agrees with the death penalty must be a right-wing nutter. Well I'm on the left and whilst I think the death penalty maybe a step too far, life imprisonment and I mean life, may be the best option in certain cases. Firstly, it isn't just about the harm caused to the victim. Notice how Bulger's parents divorced shortly after the murder. What about siblings, grandparents? You aren't just destroying one person's life, it's the lives of an entire family. Secondly I have to wonder what sort of murderer can ever come out of prison and live a normal life anyway. I mean could Bulger's killers really live a normal life after what they did? And if they could I'd actually find that rather disturbing. I mean how could you after what they did?

It may be cruel to lock someone up for life with them having no hope of ever being released, but I think it may sometimes be necessary. I'd also ask why murderers who show no remorse are released from prison? I don't think simply serving a sentence is enough. If they can't show remorse for what they have done then I would keep them inside indefinitely.

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No, they are perfectly nice human beings.
Because they were 10 years old when they committed their crimes, and as much as their crime was evil, the UK courts is not inclined to jail people for life when they're only 10..
Original post by Mick Travis
Call me old-fashioned, but do you think there are some crimes that we should consider unforgiveable? There seems to be an attitude that suggests anyone who agrees with the death penalty must be a right-wing nutter. Well I'm on the left and whilst I think the death penalty maybe a step too far, life imprisonment and I mean life, may be the best option in certain cases. Firstly, it isn't just about the harm caused to the victim. Notice how Bulger's parents divorced shortly after the murder. What about siblings, grandparents? You aren't just destroying one person's life, it's the lives of an entire family. Secondly I have to wonder what sort of murderer can ever come out of prison and live a normal life anyway. I mean could Bulger's killers really live a normal life after what they did? And if they could I'd actually find that rather disturbing. I mean how could you after what they did?

It may be cruel to lock someone up for life with them having no hope of ever being released, but I think it may sometimes be necessary. I'd also ask why murderers who show no remorse are released from prison? I don't think simply serving a sentence is enough. If they can't show remorse for what they have done then I would keep them inside indefinitely.


It's a tough one but I think I agree with you
Reply 4
I think it's because they were so young. As horrific as their crime was I don't think it's fair to lock someone up for life for something they did when they were 10. Although if they really are feeling no remorse I would keep them locked up until they start showing some. If they don't feel any guilt about what they have done they'll likely do it again.
Reply 5
Original post by Bubbles*de*Milo
Because they were 10 years old when they committed their crimes, and as much as their crime was evil, the UK courts is not inclined to jail people for life when they're only 10..


This. Remember they were only 10 and most likely had no idea of the long lasting effects that their actions would have caused. Nobody that age can truly understand.
Original post by Bubbles*de*Milo
Because they were 10 years old when they committed their crimes, and as much as their crime was evil, the UK courts is not inclined to jail people for life when they're only 10..


Exactly. And anyway, what the courts don't know is what James Bulger done to their parents..
Reply 7
I agree with the person above me'' Bubbless''
Original post by Mick Travis
Call me old-fashioned, but do you think there are some crimes that we should consider unforgiveable? There seems to be an attitude that suggests anyone who agrees with the death penalty must be a right-wing nutter. Well I'm on the left and whilst I think the death penalty maybe a step too far, life imprisonment and I mean life, may be the best option in certain cases. Firstly, it isn't just about the harm caused to the victim. Notice how Bulger's parents divorced shortly after the murder. What about siblings, grandparents? You aren't just destroying one person's life, it's the lives of an entire family. Secondly I have to wonder what sort of murderer can ever come out of prison and live a normal life anyway. I mean could Bulger's killers really live a normal life after what they did? And if they could I'd actually find that rather disturbing. I mean how could you after what they did?

It may be cruel to lock someone up for life with them having no hope of ever being released, but I think it may sometimes be necessary. I'd also ask why murderers who show no remorse are released from prison? I don't think simply serving a sentence is enough. If they can't show remorse for what they have done then I would keep them inside indefinitely.


I think Jon Venables has found it really hard to come to terms with what he has done, and hasn't coped well with being out of prison. I think secretly he is proud of what he's done, but another part of him knows it's a crime so vile and repulsive he can't understand his feelings.


I don't think this vile pair of child-killers should have ever been allowed their freedom, they were never really punished and wasn't even questioned on certain aspects of their crime.
Reply 9
Original post by Bubbles*de*Milo
Because they were 10 years old when they committed their crimes, and as much as their crime was evil, the UK courts is not inclined to jail people for life when they're only 10..


Its pretty clear they should have jailed one of them. He just was in court for child pornography
Reply 10
dunno, tell me where they are so I can kick the utter **** outta them!
Original post by Mick Travis
Call me old-fashioned, but do you think there are some crimes that we should consider unforgiveable? There seems to be an attitude that suggests anyone who agrees with the death penalty must be a right-wing nutter. Well I'm on the left and whilst I think the death penalty maybe a step too far, life imprisonment and I mean life, may be the best option in certain cases. Firstly, it isn't just about the harm caused to the victim. Notice how Bulger's parents divorced shortly after the murder. What about siblings, grandparents? You aren't just destroying one person's life, it's the lives of an entire family. Secondly I have to wonder what sort of murderer can ever come out of prison and live a normal life anyway. I mean could Bulger's killers really live a normal life after what they did? And if they could I'd actually find that rather disturbing. I mean how could you after what they did?

It may be cruel to lock someone up for life with them having no hope of ever being released, but I think it may sometimes be necessary. I'd also ask why murderers who show no remorse are released from prison? I don't think simply serving a sentence is enough. If they can't show remorse for what they have done then I would keep them inside indefinitely.


I completely agree with you that some people should be locked away for life - mainly for the safety of society more than anything else - but I think the situation was different for Robert Thompson and John Venables because they were so young. Both of them had absolutely appalling backgrounds and, while that doesn't excuse what they did at all, one could argue that they were never really taught how to behave in normal society and their upbringing caused them to become unhinged.

I also remember hearing reports that Thompson's rehabilitation into society has gone very well and he seems to have been able to become a pretty well-functioning person considering the circumstances. Clearly the same can't be said for Venables, but giving people a chance if they prove themselves worthy of one is a humane thing to do, not to mention cheaper on the taxpayer who has to finance locking these people away.
(edited 12 years ago)
Reply 12
Original post by Mick Travis
Call me old-fashioned, but do you think there are some crimes that we should consider unforgiveable? There seems to be an attitude that suggests anyone who agrees with the death penalty must be a right-wing nutter. Well I'm on the left and whilst I think the death penalty maybe a step too far, life imprisonment and I mean life, may be the best option in certain cases. Firstly, it isn't just about the harm caused to the victim. Notice how Bulger's parents divorced shortly after the murder. What about siblings, grandparents? You aren't just destroying one person's life, it's the lives of an entire family. Secondly I have to wonder what sort of murderer can ever come out of prison and live a normal life anyway. I mean could Bulger's killers really live a normal life after what they did? And if they could I'd actually find that rather disturbing. I mean how could you after what they did?

It may be cruel to lock someone up for life with them having no hope of ever being released, but I think it may sometimes be necessary. I'd also ask why murderers who show no remorse are released from prison? I don't think simply serving a sentence is enough. If they can't show remorse for what they have done then I would keep them inside indefinitely.


People will probably rip my argument to shreds but they way I see it is that they took the baby's life away for fun- an innocent child who did nothing to them- and just for that they should be behind bars for life. One life for another.

It costs money to keep these people in prison- a LOT of money. Why should tax payers pay for this? The money could be better spent elsewhere. I honestly think more people would be deterred from comitting crimes if they knew they may lose their lives for it. I find it sickening that James Bulger's parents may indirectly be paying for the upkeep of the two monsters who cruelly stole his life from him.

Also Venebles was re-arrested when police found child porn on his computer. That just goes to show that some people will never feel remorse or change.
(edited 12 years ago)
Reply 13
I am amazed nobody has mentioned the back ground these boys came from, I am not saying this frees them of guilt but it had some effect on there actions.
Reply 14
I think they shouldn't have been locked up for life but they should have served a far longer sentence than they did. They were 10 years old at the time of their crimes, which is old enough to know what is wrong and what is right but maybe not old enough to know the consequences of their crimes. I feel they should have served a good 15-20 years of their ADULT life in prison so they would have to time to understand their horrible crimes and pay for it.
Original post by Apollo11
People will probably rip my argument to shreds but they way I see it is that they took the baby's life away for fun- an innocent child who did nothing to them- and just for that they should be behind bars for life. One life for another.

It costs money to keep these people in prison- a LOT of money. Why should tax payers pay for this? The money could be better spent elsewhere. I honestly think more people would be deterred from comitting crimes if they knew they may lose their lives for it. I find it sickening that James Bulger's parents may indirectly be paying for the upkeep of the two monsters who cruelly stole his life from him.

Also Venebles was re-arrested when police found child porn on his computer. That just goes to show that some people will never feel remorse or change.


Enforcing the death penalty is not cheap. The current penal system in California costs about $137 million; it's estimated that it would only cost $11 million if the death penalty were no longer in action. The death penalty also hasn't been proven to act as a deterrent, especially when one takes into consideration that a lot of people who commit violent crimes like murder are not mentally stable.

And on a more personal level, I morally object to the idea of the state being able to murder its citizens.
Reply 16
Original post by somebodytoldmexo
It's a tough one but I think I agree with you



Original post by emi_sarb
I think it's because they were so young. As horrific as their crime was I don't think it's fair to lock someone up for life for something they did when they were 10. Although if they really are feeling no remorse I would keep them locked up until they start showing some. If they don't feel any guilt about what they have done they'll likely do it again.



Original post by Genocidal
This. Remember they were only 10 and most likely had no idea of the long lasting effects that their actions would have caused. Nobody that age can truly understand.



Original post by JaggySnake95
Exactly. And anyway, what the courts don't know is what James Bulger done to their parents..



Original post by deepspace91
I agree with the person above me'' Bubbless''


Yes but considering Venebles was found to have child porn on his computer I don't think he has changed or improved at all. He didn't think of the consequences of his actions when he was 10 and took away James Bulger's life and even now he certainly didn't stop to consider the children abused in the making of the CP and how it would affect their lives. He deserves to rot in hell.
Reply 17
Original post by LadyRowena
Enforcing the death penalty is not cheap. The current penal system in California costs about $137 million; it's estimated that it would only cost $11 million if the death penalty were no longer in action. The death penalty also hasn't been proven to act as a deterrent, especially when one takes into consideration that a lot of people who commit violent crimes like murder are not mentally stable.

And on a more personal level, I morally object to the idea of the state being able to murder its citizens.


Why so? I can see why it would be worrying- the state holding so much power that it could easily abuse... but what are your reasons?

I know it's not a perfect system and your arguments are totally valid and the point about how innocent people could be killed by accident before the truth is discovered but it's just how I feel- I honestly think Jon Venebles is beyond help.
the sick thing was that they had planned to do this, the night earlier they had watched childs play and set out to kidnap a young child to torture,, earlier that day they had failed in kidnapping another young child :frown:
Reply 19
I'm going to be cynical and suggest that they were released so that later they will kill again and the media can carry-on its brainwashing circus.

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