Rhys Jones Murder Trial (Pictures)

[English Noodles]

Rhys Jones was just 11 years old when he was shot dead in a pub car park in the Croxteth area of Liverpool.



Rhys, who played for The Fir Tree Boys football club, was on his way home from football practice with two friends. As he was crossing the Fir Tree pub car park, on Fir Tree Drive South in Croxteth Park, Liverpool, a hooded youth riding a silver mountain bike approached. He then held out a handgun at arm's length firing three shots. It was originally believed that one of the shots hit Rhys in the neck, however during the trial the pathologist revealed the bullet had entered his back "slightly above the left shoulder blade" and that it had then "exited from the front right side of his neck". The shooting occurred in broad daylight at 7.30 pm BST.
Rhys' mother rushed to the scene when she heard what had happened. By the time his mother had reached him, Rhys was unconscious. Paramedics tried for one and a half hours to resuscitate him, but he was pronounced dead some time later in Liverpool's Alder Hey Children's Hospital.



Police arrested six teenagers in connection with the murder. Two others were released. Officers conducted a fingertip search close to the many tributes left for Rhys.



Rhys's mother, Melanie, described how she cradled her dying son outside the Fir Tree pub after he was shot. Rhys's father, Stephen, said the couple had "lost their world".



Many tributes, including toys and football boots, were laid outside the Croxteth Park pub where Rhys was killed. He was a keen football fan and a season ticket holder at Everton.



Mr and Mrs Jones laid their own tribute at the scene of the shooting. The couple say they believed someone knew who killed their son.



Rhys was walking home, dressed in an Everton shirt, after playing football when he was shot. His family said "football was his life".



Many sent messages to Rhys's family, including local councillors. The father of missing four-year-old Madeleine McCann, Gerry, said he hoped the perpetrator was found.



At this point police said they were yet to find the murder weapon, and did not know what calibre firearm was used. Searches for spent bullets were ongoing.



A memorial to Rhys Jones was placed outside Everton's Goodison Park ground ahead of that Saturday's match against Blackburn Rovers.



Inside the ground, Rhys's parents and brother were joined by Everton's manager David Moyes and Mark Hughes of Blackburn for a minute's applause.




So, who are the people involved? Lets take a look.



Rhys Killer Jailed For 22 Years


The parents of Rhys Jones say justice has finally been done after their son's killer Sean Mercer was jailed for a minimum of 22 years.


Sean Mercer was a member of the Croxteth Crew gang


Police said Mercer, who was 16 when he killed the 11-year-old in August 2007, showed "no remorse whatsoever" over the Liverpool schoolboy's death.
He opened fire in front of a busy pub - and the second of three bullets hit Rhys in the neck as he walked home from football practice.
After seeing Mercer convicted, Rhys' father Stephen Jones said outside court: "Finally justice has been done for Rhys."

He thanked Merseyside Police for their perseverance and said he and his wife had found strength in the messages of support sent by people from around the world.
"As a family today it is not the final chapter but we can begin the challenge of rebuilding our lives," he said.
Six of Mercer's fellow gang members were convicted of assisting him, after they helped the thug evade detectives for months.
They were James Yates, 20, Nathan Quinn, 18 and Dean Kelly, 17, all of Croxteth, Gary Kays, 26, and Melvin Coy, 25, both of West Derby, Liverpool, and Boy M, 16, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
Kays and Coy were both jailed for seven years, while the rest of the gang - described by the judge as "selfish and shallow criminals" - will be sentenced at a later date.
Sentencing Mercer, the judge Mr Justice Irwin said: "Rhys died at your hands, his death was a tragedy for him, a tragedy for his family and a waste of a young life."

Rhys' mother Melanie, who cradled her son as he lay dying outside the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth, broke down in tears as the verdict was announced.
"Mrs Jones sat with her eyes closed, looking at the floor".
"She did look across at Sean Mercer, but upon hearing the verdict, he looked down at the floor and did not look at her.
"It has been a strange set-up: on one side of the court was a public gallery with the family and friends of Rhys Jones.
"On the other side was a second public gallery, which had the families and friends of the defendants."

At times the evidence was unbearable - Mrs Jones left the court in tears just before the CCTV footage of her son falling to the ground was played to the silent courtroom.
She and her husband have also witnessed Sean Mercer and the other defendants laughing and joking in the dock.
The trial has thrown light on a violent gang dispute that is confined to the L11 postcode area.
Merseyside Police have taken tough action since the shooting - gun crime is their number one priority.
Area Commander for Liverpool North, Steve Watson, told Sky News: "We would never suggest we have eliminated the gun problem, we clearly haven't done that.
"God forbid that we have anything again that is the tragedy that is Rhys Jones, but what I will say is we are here for the long term, we and the community have a problem with these people and we are here to sort it out."


Sean Mercer has been found guilty of murdering 11-year-old Rhys Jones with a firearm.


James Yates has been found guilty of possessing the gun used to kill Rhys.

He was also found guilty of assisting Mercer in the disposal of the murder weapon and his clothes.


Nathan Quinn has also been found guilty of assisting Mercer in the disposal of the murder weapon and his clothes.


Gary Kays has been found guilty of providing transport for Mercer and assisting him with the disposal of his clothes.


Melvin Coy has also been found guilty of providing transport for Mercer and assisting in the disposal of his clothes.


Dean Kelly, who was known throughout the trial as 'Boy K', was found guilty of possessing the murder weapon and assisting Mercer in disposing of it.

He was also found guilty of possessing a second prohibited firearm, a converted imitation Walther PPK pistol, and several rounds of ammunition without a licence.


This is a picture of the powerful handgun used by Mercer to kill Rhys Jones.

It is a Smith and Wesson .445 revolver.



The gun was discovered when Merseyside Police raided this loft, in an undisclosed location.


This converted imitation Walther PPK self-loading pistol was also found in the raid.


These bullets were also confiscated by police and used as evidence at trial.


Police also found shotgun shells.


CCTV footage of Mercer, hooded and on his bike, by the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth.

He shot Rhys soon after.


The Fir Tree pub was closed down after Rhys was shot outside.




Rhys' family stand with the manager of Everton during a minute's silence held at the football club in his memory.


Mourners wearing football shirts attended the funeral service for the murdered 11-year-old schoolboy.


And Rhys himself, in his beloved Everton shirt.


Rhys with his father Stephen, brother Owen and mother Melanie on a family holiday.


Another picture of Rhys Jones enjoying himself.


RIP.

www.skynews.com
www.bbc.co.uk
http://www.wikepedia.com/

[Chairman Mao]

Wouldn't mind kicking this guy's head in.

[Jesus Jones]

Hope they serve the full sentence.

They look like the typical scallies that need a good kicking. These thugs get to much protection in my opinion.

[Kikiat2009]

what would anyone want to kill an 11 year old boy over? stolen gumballs? my god.

I've seen a bit on the BBC about this, it seems to be a huge problem in England these kid gangs.

btw the pics of the perps...what a bunch of ugly mofos.

[panama hat]

very, very sad

[sabang]

It is good the amount of publicity and forensic evidence presented for this gun murder in the UK.

The UK does not have a gun culture, keep it that way.

[Loy Toy]

Looks like a group of brainless cvnts that you typically get in Pattaya.

May the little bloke rest in peace and I really can't understand why someone so young was targeted because of gang warfare retribution.

Wonder if it was a hit and because of some other yet to be disclosed reasons.

[pickel]

Reminds me of home. Senseless violence isn't endemic to Thailand, as some posters would have you believe.

[nidhogg]

From my reading the article, the boy was not an intended target, but an indirect victim? The gunman was shooting at the pub and the boy got in the way? can some one who knows more details confirm this or not?

[BugginOut]

^Does it matter?

Even in the UK, where guns are prohibited, this kind of thing happens and all too often. It's a tragedy that cannot be undone. Can you imagine how futile the effects would be of gun prohibition in the U.S.? There are so many. They would be in the hands of only criminals and would reappear for centuries to come.

I'm surprised those things didn't blow up in his hand judging their poor condition.

[nidhogg]

^Does it matter?

In the great scheme of things no. The reasons for the tragic event make it no less tragic. However several earlier posters had raised questions as to why the boy was targetted. My only point was that it was unclear from the article that the boy had been "targetted".

[melvbot]

Looks like a group of brainless cvnts that you typically get in Pattaya.

May the little bloke rest in peace and I really can't understand why someone so young was targeted because of gang warfare retribution.

Wonder if it was a hit and because of some other yet to be disclosed reasons.

He wasnt targeted, wrong place at the wrong time.

[nidhogg]

He wasnt targeted, wrong place at the wrong time.

Thanks.

[melvbot]

Ive been around that area of Liverpool quite a few times, only in daytime. Its a weird place, I wouldnt say scary but you just get the feeling if you arent from round that way you could step on the wrong persons toes quite easily and end up in some sort of trouble. Its a shame as a lot of the people I met are nice but just stuck in a shithole without any jobs.

Anyone who has driven into Liverpool will know what I mean, rows of decaying terraced houses, abandoned housing blocks and small estates with a few die hard residents still living in houses that need more than the poxy metal grills you get on Thai windows.

[English Noodles]

My only point was that it was unclear from the article that the boy had been "targetted".

Mercer was actually shooting at three members of the Strand Gang, who I believe (not sure) were sat in a parked BMW in the carpark at the time.

[nidhogg]

My only point was that it was unclear from the article that the boy had been "targetted".

Mercer was actually shooting at three members of the Strand Gang, who I believe (not sure) were sat in a parked BMW in the carpark at the time.

Again, thanks. Makes a clearer picture now (was going to say "more sense", but obviously little about the death of a small boy "makes sense").

[Kikiat2009]

Looks like a group of brainless cvnts that you typically get in Pattaya

sounds like the group of cunts you typically get in Liverpool to me

[Airportwo]

The 'Murderer' was a 16 year old kid who will have the rest of his life to regret this, once he grows up!
He lived in a shithouse, under who knows what peer pressure.
Easy to say he's a piece of shit, but did the wonderful society that the British goverment have created ever give him a chance?

[daveboy]

The 'Murderer' was a 16 year old kid who will have the rest of his life to regret this, once he grows up!
He lived in a shithouse, under who knows what peer pressure.
Easy to say he's a piece of shit, but did the wonderful society that the British goverment have created ever give him a chance?

Utter bollox

[Fast Eddie]

Easy to say he's a piece of shit, but did the wonderful society that the British goverment have created ever give him a chance?

The overwhelming majority of people that are the product of 'the wonderful society' don't have any intention of shooting at people in the street with guns. It's not in any way necessary. This was his choice, and he's responsible for his actions, nobody else. He's a piece of shit.

[Luckydog]

What an ugly thick looking lot they are.....Makes me want to vomit just looking at their ignorant mugs......

[keda]

The 'Murderer' was a 16 year old kid who will have the rest of his life to regret this, once he grows up!
He lived in a shithouse, under who knows what peer pressure.
Easy to say he's a piece of shit, but did the wonderful society that the British goverment have created ever give him a chance?

Are you one those that believe the way to make poor people rich is to make rich people poor? The subtle irony is that after such an upheaval, the formerly rich would become rich again and the formerly poor as angrily poor.

The wonderful society called Britain that you blame for his inadequacies, gave him the same chance it gives millions of others living in the community, as well as those that risked their lives to share in it, the opportunity not to murder.

[Airportwo]

^ I have no particular beliefs in life, far to shallow!
But I grew up in the sixties as a so called gang member and did some pretty stupid stuff, by my late teens I had moved away from the area, thankfully - if I had never had the opportunity to get away, where would I be now?
Britain is no different from any other country in there attitude to the working class, when they are not needed, they are discarded!

[Redrum]

This lot may be kids, but they're fucking dangerous. The majority of this gang are behind bars already for gun murders. This is just the latest crop. The next crop have already filled their boots.

This will happen again & again & nothing's going to end it.

For a genuine insight into life as a Liverpool gangster check out the 'film' Shooters. Shot with real gangsters, ad-libbing the script. A good watch & very realistic.

Shooters (2001)

Makes the Thai 'mafia' look like the Teletubbies.

[Fuzzy Bob]

The feckers will have a hard time inside (With luck)
RIP Rhys
(From a fellow blue nose)