Didn't see question time, but would add to what Smee has said. I think all of us have done something wrong in our childhood. I suspect that what started with these two as a game to take the wee lad snowballed out of control, and they then tried to hide what they had done, knowing they would be in trouble if they were caught. I very much doubt the would have been able to comprehend the resources that were used to track them and their victime down at the time. Yes they are a product of their environment, but that is still no excuse for the offence.
I am the product of a "broken home" but my mother, small as she was didn't take any nonsense and despite being very protective dealt justice with an iron hand when she had to. I can say without a shadow of doubt that at 10 year old I knew right from wrong.
Part of me feels that Venables and his cohort should not have been given anonimity, but left to fend for themselves. But then again two or in this case three wrongs never make a right.