|
Kill Total:
|
1
|
Kill place:
|
Croxteth, Liverpool
|
|
Kill date:
|
22nd August 2007
|
Victim(s):
|
Rhys Jones |
|
Date of Birth:
|
1990
|
Marital Status:
|
single
|
|
AKA:
|
|
Occupation:
|
unemployed
|
22nd August 2007, Mercer, a gang
member, got information that a rival gang was on "his turf", he rode on
his bicycle to the Fir Tree pub where he was to intercept the rival
gang. He fired several shots, the second shot taking down 11 year old
Rhys Jones, who was taking a short cut home after football practice.
25th August 2007, Mercer is one of a list of suspects
who is arrested and later released without charge.
26th September 2007, Police release CCTV footage of
the suspected killer on a mountain bike.
30th September 2007, Police
recover a Smith and Wesson .455 revolver from the loft of Boy X's house
in Croxteth.
April 2008, Boy X is given
immunity from prosecution and gives a full statement to police.
15th April 2008, Merseyside Police
arrests 11 people in dawn raids in connection with the inquiry.
16th April 2008: Six others are
arrested by murder detectives.
Sean Mercer is charged with murdering Rhys Jones.
Gary Kayes, 25, and Melvyn Coy, 24, James Yates, 20, all of Croxteth,
and three youths, aged 15, 16 and 17, are charged with assisting an
offender.
2nd October 2008, Rhys Jones
murder trial begins at Liverpool Crown Court.
15th December 2008, Mercer found guilty of murder at
Liverpool Crown Court. Sentenced to life imprisonment with a
recommendation he serve a minimum 22 years.
The judge, Mr. Justice Irwin branded Mercer a "coward" and described the
gang members as "selfish and shallow criminals"
Fellow gang members James Yates, and Nathan Quinn 18,
Gary Kays 26, Melvin Coy, 25, and Boy M, 16, who cannot be named
for legal reasons, were convicted unanimously of assisting an offender
after they helped Mercer evade the police for months, and for assisting in
getting a gun.
Gary Kays and Melvin Coy were each sentenced to seven years.
29th January 2009,
Yates was sentenced to 7 years, Quinn 2 years , and Kelly received 4
years. Boy M was given a supervision order.
Tuesday 1st April 2009,
The mother of Rhys
Jones's killer, Sean Mercer, has been jailed for
three years for lying to detectives
investigating the schoolboy's murder in
Liverpool. Mrs Mercer had earlier admitted
perverting the course of justice.
The judge told Janette Mercer, 49, she knew her
son had told "a pack of lies". She backed her
son, Sean, 18, when he denied owning a silver
bike caught on CCTV being used by the gunman.
Francis and Marie Yates, the parents of Sean
Mercer's co-accused James Yates, were also
sentenced.
Marie Yates, 51, hindered the murder
investigation by destroying a mobile phone Sim
card belonging to her son which denied police
vital evidence.
Francis Yates, 49, was with his wife when the
Sim was set on fire and also suggested a false
alibi to help Mercer cover his tracks.
The couple, from Dodman Road, Croxteth, pleaded
guilty to perverting the course of justice and
were sentenced to 18 months for destroying the
Sim card.
Liverpool Crown Court.
Judge, Mr. Justice Irwin
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