In the Venables case there now seems to be a theory that they never should have been charged

[Riss]

As 10 year olds are too young to know murder is wrong! What are your thoughts on that statement?

[Riss]

I like the 10 year old traveller kids,they provide me with hours of fun (seriously!)

[New Judge]

The issue raised here goes wider than the Venables case.

Dr. Atkinson, with a wonderful display of naivety so typical of her ilk, suggests that the age of criminal responsibility should be raised to twelve or even fourteen (“...to bring us into line with other nations..”, “...to succumb to pressure from other nations via the UN..” blah blah blah).

If this were the situation when Venables and Thompson committed their atrocities they would not have been prosecuted and they could not have been held in secure accommodation and could not have received any rehabilitation, treatment or whatever you’d care to call it. (Any attempts that might have been made in such circumstances would have been quickly and successfully challenged. Plainly and simply there would have been no way in law that they could have been detained or questioned, let alone prosecuted in connection with the matter. They would have walked away. James Bulger’s parents would not even have received the pathetic excuse for justice that they did get. It would have been “tough luck”.

To suggest that two street-wise (albeit badly raised) ten year olds did not know it was criminally wrong to do what they did is ludicrous. I’m glad to learn that even this government, with its long track record of pandering to the hand-wringing liberal mafia, has kicked the idea into touch.

When deliberating Dr Atkinson and her colleagues need to consider the needs of victims a little more than those of young thugs before delivering their sagacious pontifications.

[Riss]

I agree,they were street wise,and did know right from wrong.

[Kassee]

yeh, there was also a theory that Myra Hindley had turned over a new leaf in prison and should be let out to continue her life on the outside. Luckily, nothing came of it, and she died in prison. Some Lord or other was fighting for her release - madness!!!

If 10 years olds are too young to know murder of a child is wrong - heaven help us !!!