Latest news with #JamesBulger
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Man who 'got involved with the wrong crowd' after he found the body of murdered toddler James Bulger died in a police cell
Man who 'got involved with the wrong crowd' after he found the body of murdered toddler James Bulger died in a police cell The man who found James Bulger's body very likely swallowed packages of drugs before his death in custody, an inquest found. James Riley, 44, was arrested on suspicion of drug offences near Chapel Gardens, Liverpool, on March 14, 2023. The man, who had been confined in a cell overnight, was found lying on the floor and later pronounced dead at Royal Liverpool University Hospital the next evening. His cause of death was cocaine and heroin toxicity, senior coroner Andre Rebello concluded at a jury inquest held at the Gerard Majella courthouse in Kirkdale. Mr Riley had endured an 'extremely traumatic incident' as a teenager, in which he found the body of murdered toddler James, the Liverpool Echo revealed after the inquest. The inquest explored whether medical assessments of Mr Riley - carried out at the police station - and the decision not to take him to hospital prior to his collapse added to his cause of death, the Echo reported. Opening the case this month, Mr Rebello told the jury that Mr Riley was arrested shortly before 10pm by two officers. James Riley, 44, (pictured) was arrested on suspicion of drug offences near Chapel Gardens, Liverpool, on March 14, 2023 He was transported to St Anne Street Police Station, where his detention was authorised. The custody sergeant ruled Mr Riley was intoxicated and he was placed on a rest period until the next morning. He was seen by a healthcare professional shortly before 10am, who noted his presentation implied he possibly self-medicated in custody. A strip search was then authorised but nothing was found in Mr Riley's possession. He was placed on another rest period of four hours and was was removed shortly after 2pm. He was returned to his cell at 3.22pm, before a detention officer spotted him lying on the floor just before 5pm. An ambulance was called and the man was rushed to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital for 5.47pm. He reportedly arrived in cardiac arrest and was sadly pronounced dead at 6.15pm. Mr Riley had endured an 'extremely traumatic incident' as a teenager, in which he found the body of murdered toddler James Bulger (pictured), the Liverpool Echo revealed after the inquest A post-mortem examination found three packages of heroin in Mr Riley's stomach, as well as a small block of unpackaged crack cocaine. His mother Julie Riley said that after he found the toddler James's body, 'he should have had support from Merseyside Police, but he was forgotten about'. Mrs Riley added that after the experience her son 'got involved with the wrong crowd', adding: 'It's hard to get out once you are in it.' Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, both aged 10, snatched innocent two-year-old James from outside a butcher's shop in Bootle, Merseyside. After abducting James, the pair led the toddler on a two-and-a-half mile walk from the city of Liverpool to a village called Walton. On their way to the village, the three were seen by 38 people, two of whom queried the boys as the young boy was in tears with a bump on his head. Later the pair brutally tortured and killed the toddler, leaving James' mutilated body to be found two days later on a railway line in Walton.
News.com.au
12-05-2025
- News.com.au
Child killer James Bulger could be free by end of the year
James Bulger killer Jon Venables has applied for parole again — which could see him freed by the end of the year. The move has left James's family in fear, sources say. Officials have warned them that Venables, now 42, who abducted and murdered the two-year-old in 1993, will be referred to the Parole Board within six months, The Sun reported. He was last refused parole in December 2023 after a panel ruled he posed a risk. But a source said: 'It's very worrying that the process has started all over again. How many chances does he need before they throw away the key? 'The family are wracked with fear, and who can blame them?' Probation chiefs are said to have assured James's parents — mum Denise Fergus, 55, and her ex-husband Ralph Bulger, 58 — that Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood does not want him freed 'on her watch'. Venables and Robert Thompson, then both 10 years old, took James from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside. They were convicted in 1993 and given life sentences. Venables was released on licence in 2001 after eight years in youth custody. He was recalled to jail in 2010 after child abuse images were found on his computer. Venables was freed again in 2013 but was recalled in 2017 over more images. He was given a 40-month prison term, and has failed in three parole bids since. His latest attempt is understood to be in the early stages as he is assessed by psychologists and probation chiefs. A representative of Denise had been contacted. The Parole Board did not comment.
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Daily Mail
James Bulger's killer applies for parole AGAIN - sparking fury and fear for family of the murdered schoolboy
The family of murdered schoolboy James Bulger have been left 'wracked with fear' over news that their son's killer is once again up for parole. Jon Venables, now 42, was last refused release in December 2023 when the independent board ruled that he remained a risk to the public. However, he is set to be referred to the Parole Board within six months - meaning he could be free by the end of this year, The Sun reported. James, two, was abducted, tortured and beaten to death by 10-year-olds Jon Venables and Robert Thompson in 1993 in a crime which shocked the nation. The pair became the youngest ever to be convicted of murder after James' body was found on a railway track two days later. They were both convicted in 1993 and given life sentences, a source of controversy given their age. After eight years in youth custody, Venables was released in 2001 to much public outcry. A pressure group called Mothers Against Murder gathered outside the parole board's headquarters in Westminster, central London to demonstrate. Despite public pressure, the decision was made to release Venables on license in 2001 but he was recalled in 2010 after officers discovered child abuse images on his computer. He was granted parole again in 2013 but only four years later he was back in jail after yet more images were uncovered. The news of yet another parole hearing has left the family of James Bulger fearing the worst. A source told The Sun: 'It's very worrying that the process has started all over again. How many chances does he need before they throw away the key? 'The family are wracked with fear, and who can blame them?' However, justice secretary Shabana Mahmood does not want him released under her watch, a message that has been passed on to James' parents by senior probation figures. Venables' parole review is believed to still be in its infancy and his last three parole bids have failed.
The Sun
11-05-2025
- The Sun
Fury as James Bulger's killer Jon Venables applies for parole AGAIN – & could be freed by end of year
JAMES Bulger killer Jon Venables has applied for parole again — which could see him freed by the end of the year. The move has left James's family in fear, say sources. 5 5 Officials have warned them that Venables, now 42, who abducted and murdered the two-year-old in 1993, will be referred to the Parole Board within six months. He was last refused parole in December 2023 after a panel ruled he posed a risk. But a source said: 'It's very worrying that the process has started all over again. How many chances does he need before they throw away the key? 'The family are wracked with fear, and who can blame them?' Probation chiefs are said to have assured James's parents — mum Denise Fergus, 55, and her ex-husband Ralph Bulger, 58 — that Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood does not want him freed 'on her watch'. Venables and Robert Thompson, then both ten, took James from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside. They were convicted in 1993 and given life sentences. Venables was released on licence in 2001 after eight years in youth custody. He was recalled to jail in 2010 after child abuse images were found on his computer. Venables was freed again in 2013 but was recalled in 2017 over more images. He was given a 40-month prison term, and has failed in three parole bids since. His latest attempt is understood to be in the early stages as he is assessed by psychologists and probation chiefs. A representative of Denise had been contacted. The Parole Board did not comment. My son's vile killers tried to abduct two young girls before they kidnapped & tortured him, says James Bulger's mum 5 5 5
Sunday World
29-04-2025
- Sunday World
Mother of murdered tot James Bulger outraged at ‘sick' AI videos of her son
'It's just weird and it shouldn't be done.' Toddler James Bulger, who was bludgeoned to death in 1993 The mother of murdered toddler James Bulger has branded AI videos of her son as 'absolutely disgusting.' AI-generated videos depicting the two-year-old talking about his fatal abduction surfaced on TikTok. The video showed a child telling the story of James' brutal murder in the first person. A spokesperson for the social media app said that videos flagged by the BBC had been removed for violating its rules. "We do not allow harmful AI-generated content on our platform and we proactively find 96% of content that breaks these rules before it is reported to us,' they said in a statement to the broadcaster. Bulger's mother, Denise Fergus, said she thought existing AI laws do not do enough to force online platforms to take down harmful content and prevent AI from being used to depict murder victims. "It's just words at the moment, they should be acting on it,' she told the BBC, adding that the AI videos of her son were 'absolutely disgusting.' She also said that those posting them to social media 'don't understand how much they're hurting people.' 'It plays on your mind. It's something that you can't get away from. When you see that image, it stays with you.' "We go on social media and the person that's no longer with us is there, talking to us. How sick is that? "It's just corrupt. It's just weird and it shouldn't be done,' she added. Under the UK's Online Safety Act, such videos are considered illegal and should be removed from platforms, but Ms Fergus is urging for stronger laws to clamp down on deepfake videos of child murder victims. She met with Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood to discuss the issue. The toddler was abducted from the New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle, Merseyside in February 1993. He was taken by two ten-year-olds Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, who brought the little boy to a railway track four kilometres away before torturing and killing him. The tragic case sparked outrage, and his killers became the youngest convicted murderers in modern British history. Both were handed down an indefinite sentence and remained behind bars until they were granted life-long parole at the age of 18. Venables was returned to prison in 2010 for breaching the terms of his licence and was rereleased in 2013. Jon Venables (left) and Robert Thompson, who were given new identities after the murder of James Bulger Less than four years later in 2017 he was returned to prison for possession of child sex abuse images, where he remains. Venables has made numerous bids for parole, with his last one rejected in 2023. 'After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in custody and on licence, and the evidence presented in the dossier, the panel was not satisfied that release at this point would be safe for the protection of the public,' the board's decision read. 'It noted the risks as set out above, doubted Mr Venables' ability to be open and honest with professionals, and concluded that there remained a need for him to address outstanding levels of risk, and to develop his relationship with his probation officer.' Robert Thompson is not known to have reoffended and is now living under a new identity. Venebles also lives under an assumed name. A court order has banned anyone from revealing their new identities.
