Rhys killer's mother faces sentence

12 April 2012

The mother of Rhys Jones gunman Sean Mercer is due to be sentenced for lying to detectives investigating the schoolboy's murder.

Janette Mercer, 49, admitted perverting the course of justice at Liverpool Crown Court in February and will be sentenced at the same court.

She supported her gang member son when he told police he owned a black and cream mountain bike, not the silver bicycle which was caught on CCTV being used by the gunman.

But detectives soon established the killer was lying and his mother had known the truth.

Mercer, of Good Shepherd Close, Croxteth, had been involved in an insurance claim which resulted in her son taking possession of the silver bicycle, a Specialized Hardrock mountain bike.

Months later, on August 22 2007, CCTV cameras in Croxteth, Liverpool, captured the hooded gunman use the bike to ride up to the car park of the Fir Tree public house and fire three shots.

Mercer, who had previous convictions for possession of weapons and an ASBO, was shooting at rival gang members but the second bullet struck Rhys as he was walking home from football practice.

The youngster died in his mother's arms a short time later.

The gunman's bike, carrying traces of Mercer's DNA, was eventually found abandoned at an industrial estate on the outskirts of Liverpool.

Also due in court are Francis and Marie Yates, also from Croxteth, who are the parents of Sean Mercer's co-accused James Yates. They are also accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice and are set to enter a plea.

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