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14:26 GMT, Wednesday, 12 November 2008

Rhys accused wanted police help

Rhys Jones

A defendant in the Rhys Jones murder trial asked police to move him to the US as he "wanted to live", a court has heard.

The 16-year-old, known as Boy M, told detectives he wanted to give them information but was scared of "getting battered" and his home being attacked.

Along with another youth and four men, he is accused of assisting an offender.

Sean Mercer, 18, of Good Shepherd Close, Croxteth, denies the murder of 11-year-old Rhys.

The prosecution alleged Mr Mercer was the gunman who shot Rhys dead in the car park of the Firtree pub in Croxteth on 22 August 2007.

It is claimed clothing and a bike belonging to Mr Mercer, and a gun, were disposed of by the other defendants on trial.

The court heard Boy M was interviewed by police several times between August last year and April 2008.

"Move me to America. I want to live"
Boy M

He admitted lying to officers in his first interview a week after Rhys was killed.

But in an interview on 15 April the boy, who has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), said he was scared to give evidence on tape in case gang members heard it.

In the presence of his solicitor, he added: "Move me to America. I want to live."

The boy was once part of the so-called Crocky Crew but stopped associating with the gang because he wanted to stay out of trouble, he told police.

But talking about hostility between the Croxteth Crew and Norris Green's Strand Gang , he said: "I hope all Norris Green people die."

Bugged recording

Boy M, whose mother and grandmother have already given evidence for the prosecution, did not initially tell police that Mr Mercer arrived at his home with two other defendants after Rhys was killed.

The prosecution alleged Mr Mercer went to Boy M's house and gave another boy - who has since been made a protected witness and given immunity from prosecution - the murder weapon.

During police interviews a bugged recording was played to Boy M in which people discuss him taking Mr Mercer's clothes and dumping them in a bin.

He denied anyone asked him to dispose of clothes after Rhys' killing.

The six accused of assisting an offender are; James Yates, 20, of Dodman Road; Nathan Quinn, of Wickett Close, both Croxteth; Gary Kays, 25, of Mallard Close and Melvin Coy, 24, of Abbeyfield Drive, both West Derby, Liverpool, along with Boy M, 16, and Boy K, 17, who cannot be named.



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