Michael Venables back in police custody after breaching terms of his parole . His battered body was left on a railway line to be cut in half by an oncoming train . Venables and Robert Thompson were just eight years old when they murdered James Bulger . Two - year - old was tortured before his body was dumped on a railway track . Killers ' release in 2001 after just eight years provoked public outrage .
Michael Venables back in police custody after breaching terms of his parole . Venables and Robert Thompson were just eight years old when they murdered James Bulger . Two - year - old was tortured before his body was dumped on a railway track . Killers ' release in 2001 after just eight years provoked public outrage .