Letter: Mental illness in British children

Sir: I am sorry to read in your leading article, 'A challenge to the Bulger trial' (23 May), that 'sentencing policy and public opinion cannot afford to diverge too widely'. A highly political media, moral panic and an ignorant public are not conducive to justice and truth.

My friends in Spain were horrified that children so young with such a background could possibly be considered responsible, to have mens rea. I find the desire for revenge, which seems so prevalent in Britain, to be a disturbing trait of our national character and our justice system.

Yours faithfully,

PETER HUNT

Hayes, Kent

23 May