The nation was horrified when it was emerged two boys, both aged 10, abducted and then murdered little two-year-old James Bulger in Liverpool, back in February 1993.
Now, 25 years later, The Bulger Killers: Was Justice Done? explored the distressing murder through interviews with many who were involved in the case.
Jon Venables and Robert Thompson are heard denying the murder, before finally admitting to beating and stoning him to death, in chilling audio clips.
Dominic Lloyd, Thompson’s lawyer, said “I was really surprised by how young he sounded. It took my breath away when I first heard it. I thought they (the police) had made a mistake originally.”
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Venables and Thompson were sentenced to eight years, making them the youngest convicted murderers in modern English history.
Despite James mum Denise protesting the boys remain in custody, both were freed and given new identities in 2001.
Venables, however, was arrested in 2017 after he was allegedly caught in possession of vile child abuse images.
His trial will take place in a private later this year.
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“I was really surprised by how young he sounded. It took my breath away when I first heard it”
Dominic Lloyd
Laurence Lee, Venables solicitor, said James’ family would never feel that justice was served.
He added: “Justice could never be served because Denise’s family would have been delighted if they had never been released and I can’t blame them for that.
“But, no matter how many years they served in custody life was never the same for them when they came out and maybe by way of reason I believe that these boys maybe at liberty, but they will never be free.”
The Bulger Killers: Was Justice Done? is available to watch on All 4.