Rhys' mum breaks down

By STAFF REPORTER

Published: Today

THE mum of 11-year-old Rhys Jones broke down in tears at court today during the hearing of a teen accused of killing the young soccer fan.

Melanie Jones dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief as she clung to the arm of husband, Stephen, who was sitting with his arms folded, breathing deeply and shifting his position to get a better look at the youth.

The couple saw the teen appear at Liverpool Magistrates' Court where he was remanded in custody until April 25.

The 16-year-old has also been charged with possessing a firearm.

None of the teenagers can be named for legal reasons.

Two men, Melvyn Coy, 24, and Gary Kayes, 25, were also remanded in custody until April 25 charged with assisting an offender.

All the defendants are from Croxteth.

Rhys, 11, was shot on August 22 last year as he walked home from football training.

He was the innocent victim of a stray bullet after he became caught up in a gang confrontation in Liverpool.

The football-mad youngster was cradled by his mother Mrs Jones, 42, as he died in the car park of the Fir Tree Public house - only yards from his home in Croxteth Park.


Rhys’ parents sat to the left of the dock in the oak-panelled court.

Mr Jones, wearing a mauve open-necked shirt, sat alongside his wife Melanie, who wore a purple ribbon, part of a campaign started in Liverpool against gun crime.

Both sat impassively alongside further members of their family waiting for proceedings to start.

But lawyers for the defendant left court and proceedings have now been delayed for more than an hour.

Security at the Magistrates’ Court was unprecedented this morning.

Police officers with dogs were stationed inside the court with airport-style metal detectors at the entrance of the courtroom.

Police vans and cars were also stationed outside the court building where TV cameras and press photographers waited outside

The suspects were arrested by armed police in dawn raids on Tuesday.

The arrests followed one of the biggest murder inquiries carried out by Merseyside Police in recent years.

Last night, a police chief paid tribute to the bravery of the 11-year-old's parents.

The nation was moved when Melanie, 42, told how she cradled Rhys in her arms as his life ebbed away.

Detective Superintendent Dave Kelly last night revealed the 17-year-old — long the prime suspect in the manhunt — would appear at Liverpool Magistrates' Court today.

His identity has been common knowledge across Liverpool for months and was broadcast on the internet site YouTube.

Det Supt Kelly thanked Melanie and husband Stephen, 45, for their “support and patience” throughout the police investigation.

He added: “They have shown courage, strength and dignity through what must have been a truly terrible time for them.

“We have brought significant charges today. It has been a complicated inquiry and this has been reflected in the number of charges.”

Last night Merseyside Assistant Chief Constable Patricia Gallan said: “It has been a complex inquiry, which has been supported throughout by Rhys’s parents and the community of Merseyside.”

Helen Morris, of Merseyside Crown Prosecution Service, added: “Having considered all the material provided by Merseyside Police, I authorised people should be charged.”

A dozen people were picked up in Tuesday’s dawn swoops — and another teenager was arrested yesterday.

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Six have been charged, four aged 16, 49, 50 and 54 have been freed on bail pending inquiries, a 20-year-old is in custody and two have been freed without charge.

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You can't help but feel for them though can you, such a young life wasted.

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Any death of a youth is sad, but the deliberate act of taking a such a young life makes it doubly so.

Here in the US, a 16 year old would be tried as an adult and in some states seek he death penalty, what are the laws of the UK for such a crime?

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