
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 17, 1993                   TAG: 9311170046
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: PRESTON, ENGLAND                                LENGTH: Short

ACCUSED BOY TOLD POLICE CO-DEFENDANT BEAT CHILD

One of the two schoolboys accused of killing a toddler told police that his co-defendant battered the child with bricks and a heavy iron bar, according to an interview played in court Tuesday.

The boy, who can be identified only as Child A, is heard saying that he tried to restrain Child B from hitting 2-year-old James Bulger in the face with a brick.

Child A claimed that he ran away at that point, but under questioning he said that he saw Child B hit James with a second brick and then knock him unconscious with the iron bar.

The two 11-year-old boys are charged with the abduction and murder of James Bulger, taken from a Liverpool shopping mall Feb. 12. The 2-year-old was led about two miles to the track.

Both boys, who were 10 at the time of the crime, have pleaded innocent. Prosecutors say Child B has confessed to the crime while Child A told police he only watched.

by CNB