The second British youngster convicted of the 1993 murder of toddler James Bulger will appearing today in front of a parole board which will decide if he should be allowed to walk free.
Robert Thompson, now 18, has served out his eight year sentence and could be released within weeks if he convinces the parole board that he no longer poses any threat to society.
Bulger's abduction and murder rank as one of Britain's most infamous crimes and the prospect of Thompson and his accomplice Jon Venables, also 18, going free has provoked anger.
Thompson and Venables, who were 10 at the time, snatched Bulger from a shopping centre in Liverpool, northwest England, bludgeoned him to death with stones and then left his body across a railway track.
Thompson had his own parole board hearing on Monday, though the decision will not be known until next week at the earliest. Both parole hearings are taking place at secret locations to prevent angry protests.
AFP