Out of step with the majority?
The news today of 4 children, aged 11 and 12, being arrested and questioned about the attempted murder of a 5 yr old boy brought to mind the case of the murder of Jamie Bulger. In 1993, the 2 yr old boy was taken from a shopping mall in Liverpool by two 10 year old boys. They took Jamie on a walk for over 2 and a half miles, along the way stopping every now and again to torture the poor little boy. Finally they stopped at a railway track where they brutally kicked him, threw stones at him, rubbed paint in his eyes and pushed batteries in his mouth. He was left on the railway line, where he died before a train ran over his body.
The two boys spent 8 yrs in prison and there was press and public outcry when they were released and given anonymity. I disagreed, having felt from the outset that they were almost as much victims as Jamie Bulger. They had been let down my us, the rest of humanity, who had brought them to that point where they felt the need to do that dreadful thing. I cried as much for them as I did for their victim...
The two boys spent 8 yrs in prison and there was press and public outcry when they were released and given anonymity. I disagreed, having felt from the outset that they were almost as much victims as Jamie Bulger. They had been let down my us, the rest of humanity, who had brought them to that point where they felt the need to do that dreadful thing. I cried as much for them as I did for their victim...