Rough Justice

Today

A big fuss today because of the news that John Venables, one of the killers of James Bulger, may have to stand trial for another crime. The hounds of vengeance are baying for blood. Given that he was ten years old at the time and has served the sentence laid down for him, I agree totally with the judge that his anonymity is crucial because there are those out there who would take the law into their own hands.

In My Day

This is really Becky's story but it sheds a light on cases such as these. When Becky lived in Wimbledon she was in the shopping centre one day. She heard a child's voice saying "Mummy?" Looking around she saw a child of about two, clearly lost. Other shoppers were ignoring the child and there was no sign of the mother or a responsible adult.

Becky approached the child and asked if he was lost. She then took him into a shop and asked if they could contact security and put out a page to locate the mother.

This was duly done and the mother turned up. Without a word of thanks to Becky the mother went off with her child.

A few minutes later, Becky saw the mother, deep in conversation with a friend, paying no attention as the child wandered off again. This time she didn't intervene.

When she told me the story I gasped "But that's James Bulger all over again!" It's my belief that if just one person had paid attention to this unattended two year old, he might still be alive and his killers may be living normal lives.

I am so sorry for his death, but every adult in that shopping centre that day, and his mother must take some responsibility for the fact that he was able to wander alone to meet his killers.