One of toddler James Bulger’s killers has been charged over indecent images of children and his trial is to be held in private at an unnamed court, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.
Jon Venables was returned to prison in November after he was allegedly caught with child abuse images.
The CPS released a statement on Friday revealing that he had been charged and was to face trial.
Jon Venables, who as a boy (pictured) killed toddler James Bulger, will have his trial over possession of child abuse images heard in private, prosecutors have said
The statement said: ‘The man formerly known as Jon Venables has been charged with offences relating to indecent images of children and will appear in the Crown Court.
‘In order that justice can be done, no further details are being released at this stage and the proceedings are subject to reporting restrictions.’
Venables and his friend Robert Thompson tortured and killed two-year-old James in Liverpool in 1993 when they were both aged 10.
After serving eight-year sentences, they were granted lifelong anonymity that saw them released under new identities in 2001.
In CCTV footage that shocked a nation in 1993, Venables (seen holding the toddler’s hand) and Thompson are seen leading James out of the shopping centre and towards his death
Following his arrest in November, the Attorney General launched an investigation into claims his identity had been revealed on social media.
In 2013, two men who posted images they claimed to be of Venables and Thompson were given nine-month sentences, suspended for 15 months.
Breaking the injunction on identifying them carries a punishment of up to two years in prison.
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