James Bulger’s killer Jon Venables has been granted a parole hearing in his controversial bid to be freed from jail.
Venables, 40, and Robert Thompson, 39, were both 10 when they kidnapped, tortured and killed James before leaving his mutilated body by railway tracks in Liverpool 30 years ago.
They snatched the two-year-old from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, on February 12, 1993.
It is understood Venables’ parole hearing will take place on November 14 and 15.
A Parole Board spokesperson said an oral hearing has been listed for the parole review and is scheduled to take place in November.
They added: “Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.
“A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.
“Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing. Evidence from witnesses including probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements are then given at the hearing.
“The prisoner and witnesses are then questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more. Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.”
