In the end, it boils down to whether you believe people can be born evil or whether circumstances, influences, upbringing, education, etc, make them/us what they/we are. I firmly believe the latter, and so does the state - the murderous gene is an invention of science fantasy and will remain so until proved otherwise. It is what separates civilisation from savagery (and Texas).
Most civilised societies recognise that fact and set a limit at which an individual can be made fully answerable for their actions.
Venables and Thomson were only two thirds through their 'childhood' period when they did what they did and had five years to go before they reached full accountability.
As horrific as these events were, you cannot pick-'n-mix; it goes for all people and all crimes or it goes for none - if the latter, this pair will not only have killed a child, but they will have contributed to retuning our society to a state of savagery.
"I see you are now supporting this new group in Northern Ireland that claimed the Omagh attack"
I don't for one minute expect a reply to this, but whenever did I do this?
I think they are murderous thugs, and I always have done - show me were I have ever said otherwise.
You really are the pits - and dim with it.
Jim Carroll