Jon Venables, one of the two killers who infamously murdered two-year-old James Bulger in England when they were just ten years old, has been granted parole for the second time. The child killer, now 30, was released on parole in 2001, but was sent back to prison after pleading guilty to charges related to child pornography in 2010.

In February 1993, news that two ten-year-old boys had abducted and murdered a young boy had shocked the nation. Venables and Robert Thompson, both 10 years old at that time, were known as troublemakers from their school, but the public still couldn't comprehend how they could have murdered, let alone mutilate, a boy when they were young children themselves.

Venables and Thompson abducted Bulger from a shopping centre near Liverpool on February 12, 1993 while Bulger's mother was momentarily distracted while buying from a meat shop. They led him across town, stopping by the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and a pet shop, hurting Bulger throughout their journey. They eventually settled to a railway line near a disused station, where they began torturing the hapless young child.

Bulger's mutilated body was found on a railway line two days after his murder. A train operator had spotted his body, first thinking that it was just a doll. According to police reports, it's possible that apart from striking Bulger, Venables and Thompson even sexually assaulted him.

They were arrested and charged with Bulger's abduction and murder on February 20, and were found guilty the following November. Both were given life sentences, but were released on parole in 2001 after receiving new identities to protect them.

In March 2010, it was revealed that Venables was sent back to prison for violating terms of his license of release. The Ministry of Justice declined to elaborate what specific violation did Venables committed, just stating that it is of "extremely serious allegations." However, a UK paper revealed a few days later that Venables had been returned to jail on suspected child pornography charges.

Venables was formally charged with possession and distribution of indecent images of children in June the same year.

But on Thursday, July 4, 2013, the parole board released a statement, confirming reports that Venables will be released. No definite date has been announced.

The news of his impending release has dismayed Bulger's parents and supporters.

Denise Fergus, who has split from Ralph Bulger since their son's death, wrote on Twitter: "Just dont believe wat ive got 2 go through. AGAIN," [sic]

Bulger's father, meanwhile, issued a statement through his lawyer, Robin Makin.

"The decision to release Jon Venables is misguided and fills Ralph with terror," Mr Makin said. "Ralph fears that an innocent person may be mistaken for Jon Venables and be injured or even killed. If such occurs then Ralph will feel guilty of not having done enough to have prevented such an obvious tragedy."