New appeal on Jessie anniversary

Jessie was shot three times as he cycled through a Moss Side park

Almost a year after a 15-year-old boy was shot dead in a Manchester park, police are renewing their appeal for information.

Jessie James was shot in September 2006 as he rode his bicycle through a park in Moss side on his way to a party.

Two prison inmates, aged 20 and 21, were arrested over the murder last month after a new witness testimony was given during the inquest.

Detectives said despite this progress they still needed people to speak out.

Police believe that the identity of the killers is widely known in the community, but people are too scared to say anything.

Officers have promised unprecedented levels of witness protection to anyone who comes forward.

'Jigsaw piece'

Detective Superintendent Shaun Donnellan, Senior Investigating Officer for the murder, said: "It may be a year since Jessie was killed but I am sure there are still people out there who have information they have not yet given to the police.

"We have protective measures in place so no-one ever needs to know who you are but your testimony could be the piece of the jigsaw that convicts his killers.

"During the inquest last month a witness came forward and did this, leading to two arrests. But we need more people to take this kind of stand if we are going to bring Jessie's killers to justice."

At the inquest into Jessie's death, the coroner Nigel Meadows took the unusual step of allowing witnesses to give evidence anonymously via video link to Manchester Crown Court, with their voices disguised and their identities concealed.

Police believe these two figures could be Jessie's killers

A new witness came forward during the inquest and as a result a 21-year-old man from Old Trafford and a 20-year-old man from Hulme arrested on Thursday 9 August on suspicion of murder have been bailed until 20 September, pending further inquiries.

Police said they thought Jessie's murder was a case of mistaken identity and that he was "in the wrong place at the wrong time".

He was shot with a semi-automatic pistol, suffering three gunshot wounds.

CCTV footage showing people cycling away from the murder scene was released and the offer of a £20,000 reward for information is still being offered.

Jessie's mother Barbara Reid and sister Rosemary have made many appeals over the last year for the community break the "wall of silence" protecting his killers.

His mother Barbara has said: "By not telling police you are allowing these evil individuals to carry on intimidating our youth and they will just move onto their next victim."