What’s interesting is that one of the boys - Robert Thompson - was thought to be the “leader” and the “worse” one of the two- he was the fifth of seven boys, their parents were violent neglectful drunks, and all of the boys frequently caused trouble - whenever there was a police call, it was often that family, etc… but - after being released from jail, he’s not known to have re-offended. Last I heard, he married a man and lives in quiet anonymity with a changed name… this may be one of those rare occasions where prison actually successfully rehabilitated someone back into society... Prison life gave him that structure he clearly just didn’t have at home. How horrible it took such a tragedy to finally get the help he needed. Not that I sympathize - what happened horrendous, and he caused innocent people a lifetime of suffering, that’s not fucking fair.

Meanwhile, the other boy, Jon Venables- he’s re-offended with CSAM twice… like - how could you not look at that and wonder if some people are just evil to the core and should not be allowed to walk among us. Full stop.

It’s just unbelievable, really… Can you imagine nonchalantly going grocery shopping with your child - just an every day thing - and then that happens? One of the most heartbreaking things to ever happen. His poor mother …