9th Mar 10
Jon Venables could be murdered if identity is made public
by Harry Oldfield
The judge who gave anonymity to one of Britain’s most notorious killers has warned last night that Jon Venables faces the risk of being murdered if his new identity was made public.
Lady Butler-Sloss said she supported the decision of justice secretary, Jack Straw, that it would not be in the interest of the public to release such details about Venables, who has been recalled to jail for breaching his parole life license.
The court has sanctioned protection of Venables, who now faces charges as to what has been speculated in media reports as a serious sexual offence, has sparked immense debate as to how much information should be released before a potential jury trial and reignited public sympathy for the family of the toddler.
James’ mother Denise Fergus said that she was sleepless and had not been eating again after learning that Venables, who was 10 when he murdered the two year old in 1993, was back in prison.
Butler-Sloss, who granted Venables anonymity at his release from prison nine years ago, told the House of Lords that Straw was right in resisting pressure from the media for fuller disclosure. She added that she hopes the government would take into account the enormous importance of protecting his anonymity now and if he is released, because those who wanted to kill him in 2001 are likely to be waiting for him now.
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