Rhys killing 'appalled country'

The murder of schoolboy Rhys Jones was a "terrible killing" which appalled the whole country, a judge has told jurors.

Mr Justice Stephen Irwin made the remarks as he began summing up the case at Liverpool Crown Court.

Rhys, 11, was shot dead in the car park of the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth, Liverpool, on 22 August last year.

Sean Mercer, 18, of Croxteth, denies murder and says he was at a friend's home when Rhys was killed. Six others deny assisting an offender.

They are James Yates, 20, of Dodman Road and Nathan Quinn, 18, 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 identified.

Boy K is also charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition. All the defendants deny all charges.

'Glimpse of fear'

Judge Irwin said: "This terrible killing has caught the attention of the whole country and indeed has appalled the whole country.

"The death of an innocent boy, the echo of other innocent deaths.

"The glimpse of fear caused by the agenda of gangs and a churning in the stomach caused by the feeling that Rhys could have been anyone, your son or my son.

"This is not what decides this case. You decide this case. You know more than anybody about this case."

The prosecution claim Mr Mercer fired three shots across the car park after targeting members of the rival Strand Gang.

They told the court Mr Mercer, Mr Yates and Mr Kays were driven by Mr Coy to a garage on an industrial estate where his clothes were burned and his body washed down with petrol.

Prosecution witness Boy X, who cannot be identified and is not on trial, told the court Mr Mercer had given him the suspected murder weapon, a Smith and Wesson .455 revolver, to hide.

Boy X also said Boy K, who supports Mr Mercer's alibi, later moved the gun to another hiding place where it was found by police.

The jury have already been told that after the shooting Mr Mercer cycled to the home of Boy M where he called his co-defendants to help him avoid detection.

The judge told the jury to consider 10 questions, including whether Mr Mercer was the gunman, when deliberating the verdict.

The trial was adjourned until Friday.

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