First of all, Venables and Thompson needed to be located. The police released the still CCTV images of Venables and Thompson walking off with Bulger. A woman called in, who knew Venables, and also happened to know that the two were truanting that day. When she informed the police, an arrest was carried out straight away.
There were several clues which lead the police to understand who was responsible for two year old James Bulgers' murder. The blue paint which was found at the crime scene and on James was matched with the blue paint on both Venables' and Thompsons' clothing. It was also shown that this paint was shoplifted by the two before they abducted Bulger. There was also blood found on Thompson's shoe, which was later proved to be Bulger's through a DNA test. The police matched a footprint on Bulgers' face to the print at the bottom of Thompsons' shoe which then correlated with the blood stain. The police also found evidence on Venables' shoes and pointed out that due to a paint mark in his toe-cap, he must have kicked Bulger with a lot of force.
All of the evidence mounted up and the boys were charged with the murder of James Bulger on 20th February 1993 and appeared at the South Sefton's Magistrates Court on February 22 1993, where they were told they would await trial in police custody until they were to be sentenced.
The boys' then appeared at Preston Crown Court on 1 November 1993 where they denied all charges of murder and abduction. The evidence showed a different story and they were sentenced to at least 10 years imprisonment at the Barton Moss secure unit in Manchester. They were also to be given new identities once released from prison.
More information on the sentencing and what happened afterwards can be found here.
Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_James_Bulger
There were several clues which lead the police to understand who was responsible for two year old James Bulgers' murder. The blue paint which was found at the crime scene and on James was matched with the blue paint on both Venables' and Thompsons' clothing. It was also shown that this paint was shoplifted by the two before they abducted Bulger. There was also blood found on Thompson's shoe, which was later proved to be Bulger's through a DNA test. The police matched a footprint on Bulgers' face to the print at the bottom of Thompsons' shoe which then correlated with the blood stain. The police also found evidence on Venables' shoes and pointed out that due to a paint mark in his toe-cap, he must have kicked Bulger with a lot of force.
All of the evidence mounted up and the boys were charged with the murder of James Bulger on 20th February 1993 and appeared at the South Sefton's Magistrates Court on February 22 1993, where they were told they would await trial in police custody until they were to be sentenced.
The boys' then appeared at Preston Crown Court on 1 November 1993 where they denied all charges of murder and abduction. The evidence showed a different story and they were sentenced to at least 10 years imprisonment at the Barton Moss secure unit in Manchester. They were also to be given new identities once released from prison.
More information on the sentencing and what happened afterwards can be found here.
Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_James_Bulger