Robert Thompson boasts killing James Bulger gave him a better life

ONE of James Bulger’s killers says he has had a better life as a result of murdering the toddler.

Robert Thompson, now 36, said he is a “better person” thanks to his years in prison — but apologised for murdering the two-year-old.

He and pal Jon Venables were ten when they abducted and mutilated James in Bootle, Merseyside, in 1993.

But in statements that convinced the Parole Board to free him in 2001, he said: “I do feel aware I am now a better person and have had a better life and a better education than if I had not committed the murder.

“There is obviously an irony to this but it is part of my remorseful feelings as well.

“I, personally, wish Mr and Mrs Bulger and their families to know that I am desperately sorry for what I did, and aware of the enormity of what I did.”

Thompson claimed he pleaded not guilty to murder for fear of revenge attacks.

He said: “This is why I felt unable to admit my part in the murder. I wanted to tell what had happened, but I could not accept the blame, so I had to tell and put the blame for everything on Jon Venables’ shoulders.

He said he accused Venables, adding: “I was too frightened to accept any blame myself.”

Speaking about the murder, he told the Parole Board: “Looking back, I very much regret that I did nothing to stop it.

“I had a strange energy in me where I had to be doing something, getting chased, stealing something, getting into trouble, and Jon Venables with James Bulger was stopping me from doing this. I am deeply ashamed of what I did, of having played a part in this horrible murder.”

He said: “My trial was an ordeal. The Judge’s robes included gloves and a black cloth, which I asked my lawyers about, and the answer frightened me. The courtroom was totally packed with reporters, and I felt paralysed by their attention.

“I didn’t feel it was possible for me to make an admission of my involvement, having seen the public reaction to the crime, and to myself and Jon Venables as the people accused of that crime. I didn’t feel able to give evidence.”

But he denied the pair sexually assaulted James before killing him and revealed he and Venables never spoke about the attack.

He said: "Jon Venables and I did not speak to each other at all, as I remember, during the attack. And we didn’t speak about it after we left James Bulger on the railway line.”

The statements also reveal that Venables, now back in jail for possessing indecent images, reacted angrily when told Sun readers collected coupons calling for him to be locked up for life.