The Great Space Race

February The town of Bootle, Liverpool, experienced one of the worst crimes this country has ever seen.

A 2 year old was out shopping with his mother…….

For just a few seconds, his mother took her eyes away from her son and he was gone…..

CCTV cameras in the shopping centre caught the boy being led away by two other children….

….later that afternoon, James Bulger was found on a nearby railway. His dead body battered and mutilated.

The news of the crime caused uproar across the country. The two boys were caught and put on trial for the murder.

Those two boys were Robert Thompson and Jon Venables both were 10 years old at the time of the murder.

In November 1993, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables were convicted of murder and both sentenced to serve a minimum sentence of 8 years each in secure Youth Accommodation. This was increased on appeal to ten years by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Taylor of Gosforth.

There was public outrage over this sentence and Jamie Bulger’s parents, Denise and Ralph, campaigned against it gaining over 250,000 signatures asking for their son’s murderers to be jailed for life.

As a result of public outcry the home secretary at the time Michael Howard, extended the boys sentence to 15 years.

In 2001 Jonathan Venables and Robert Thompson were released from the secure units as it was judged they were reformed characters and no longer a danger to the public.

For their own safety they were provided with new identities. They and their families now have different names and it is not possible to find out where they live. Even if the media found out it is illegal for them to print details of the boys location.Due to the risk of their lives being in danger.

This song was played at James Bulgers funeral at the request of his family.

Title: The Age of Criminal Responsibility

LO 1. To know the age of criminal responsibility 2. To form your own opinion about the age of criminal responsibility

The Great Space Race

Were you watching carefully? I will ask a question- do not shout out! You have one chance to pass if you don’t know. To know the age of criminal responsibility- Level 3

The age of criminal responsibility is the age at which people can be arrested, charged and punished for a crime. What is the age of criminal responsibility? In the UK this is age 10. To know the age of criminal responsibility- Level 3

What do you think? Is the age of 10 the right age to arrest someone? Yes or No? Why do you think this? To form your own opinion about the age of criminal responsibility (Levels 3-6)

Background to this case… John Venables: - Parents divorced when young - Brothers and sisters behaviour problems - Truanting school Robert Thompson: - Dad violent drunk - Very poor family - Parents divorced badly - Truanting school To form your own opinion about the age of criminal responsibility (Levels 3-6)

Do you think someone who is 10 years old should be arrested and punished if they commit a crime? Level 3 – You express your opinion and give 1 reason why you think what you do. why you think what you do. Level 4 – You express your own opinion and give 1 reason why you think what you do and 1 reason why someone might disagree with you. Level 5 – As L4 but with 2 or more reasons for each argument. Level 6 - As L5 but written in paragraphs with an introduction and conclusion. To form your own opinion about the age of criminal responsibility (Levels 3-6)

Writing guide I do/don’t think a 10 year old should be arrested and punished if they commit a crime because… Another reason why I think this is … Some people might disagree with me because they might think that… Another reason why they might think that is.. In conclusion, I think that 10 years old is too young/too old/the right age to have criminal responsibility. When you are ten you know/don’t know the difference between … To form your own opinion about the age of criminal responsibility (Levels 3-6) Use this Writing Guide to reach for the stars!

The Great Space Race

Writing guide Level 3: I do/don’t think a 10 year old should be arrested and punished if they commit a crime because… Another reason why I think this is … Level 4: Some people might disagree with me because they might think that… Level 5: Another reason why they might think that is… Level 6: In conclusion, I think that 10 years old is too young/too old/the right age to have criminal responsibility. When you are ten you know/don’t know the difference between … To form your own opinion about the age of criminal responsibility (Levels 3-6) Use this Writing Guide to reach for the stars!

Stick sheets in… Extension task: Imagine you are the judge in the trial. The defendant is found guilty. What punishment/sentence would you give and why…