Mobile appeal for Rhys witnesses

Detectives are using a device that can send messages to Bluetooth enabled phones in Croxteth within a 100m radius of the transmitter.

Police have unsuccessfully tried to trace two key witnesses - a woman driving a red car and a boy on a bike.

It is thought to be the first time a UK force has used this technology.

It is now over two months since the Everton fan was shot as he walked home from football practice.

The transmitter is based in a police car patrolling the Croxteth and Croxteth Park area on Monday afternoon and evening.

The messages will be appealing for information on the gunman and a woman driving a red car who nearly knocked over a cyclist just after Rhys was shot.

"We are trialling this new technology to see if it can reach new people"
Det Supt Dave Kelly

Another message asks for more information about a boy aged about 13 or 14-years old seen riding a silver BMX bike outside the Fir Tree pub at about 1915 BST on the night of the murder.

Officers have also arranged for an advertising board to be placed at the entrance to Oak Lane, appealing for the driver of the red car to contact police.

The senior investigating officer, Det Supt Dave Kelly, said: "These appeals could provide information which is vital to our investigation.

"We are trialling this new technology to see if it can reach new people."

Crimewatch appeal

A second appeal will also be made on the BBC Crimewatch programme in an attempt to catch Rhys Jones' killer.

The last appeal, including a reconstruction of the shooting, received 30 calls, 12 giving the same name for the gunman.

So far police have made 18 arrests, but nobody been charged.

Last week letters were sent to three thousand homes in the Croxteth area by police in the hope of tracing a key witness.

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