In February 1993, the small town of Bootle near Liverpool was shaken by an unthinkable tragedy. 2-year-old James Bulger disappeared from a local shopping centre, leading to a large search and investigation. But no one would have guessed what would later be revealed — two 10-year-olds, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, had abducted and killed James Bulger in cold blood.
The details of this horrific crime were nauseating — the pair had taken James on a walk for several miles before beating him to death and leaving his body mutilated on some train tracks. When they were arrested two days later, they became the youngest convicted murderers in modern English history after being found guilty in November 1993.
This tragic event has since been documented in detail in various books, articles and films including the award winning 2016 documentary Killing for Love which tells the story of James Bulger’s murder from both sides of the story – through interviews with those close to the case as well as with Robert Thompson and Jon Venables themselves. It is an insightful look into how such a heinous act could be committed by two boys so young – and why it occurred.
For anyone seeking to understand this tragedy deeply or simply learn more about it, Killing for Love offers a powerful insight into one of Britain’s darkest moments. We urge you to watch this gripping documentary and gain a better understanding of what happened that fateful day in February 1993.
