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| Teenager charged with Rhys murder | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A 17-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of 11-year-old Liverpool schoolboy Rhys Jones. | A 17-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of 11-year-old Liverpool schoolboy Rhys Jones. |
| Two men aged 24 and 25 and two youths have been charged with assisting an offender. One of the youths has also been charged with possessing a firearm. | Two men aged 24 and 25 and two youths have been charged with assisting an offender. One of the youths has also been charged with possessing a firearm. |
| A total of 13 people were arrested on Tuesday and Wednesday in connection with the youngster's murder. | A total of 13 people were arrested on Tuesday and Wednesday in connection with the youngster's murder. |
| Rhys was shot by a gunman on a bicycle as he walked home from playing football in Croxteth Park in August 2007. | Rhys was shot by a gunman on a bicycle as he walked home from playing football in Croxteth Park in August 2007. |
| Evidence assessed | Evidence assessed |
| Det Supt Dave Kelly, leading the inquiry, said: "We have brought significant charges today. It has been a complicated inquiry which is reflected in the number of charges today. | Det Supt Dave Kelly, leading the inquiry, said: "We have brought significant charges today. It has been a complicated inquiry which is reflected in the number of charges today. |
| "I would personally like to thank Stephen and Melanie Jones for their support and patience throughout this investigation. | "I would personally like to thank Stephen and Melanie Jones for their support and patience throughout this investigation. |
| "They have shown courage, strength and dignity during what must have been a truly terrible time for them." | "They have shown courage, strength and dignity during what must have been a truly terrible time for them." |
| Helen Morris, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said she had been working closely with police since the start of the investigation. | Helen Morris, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said she had been working closely with police since the start of the investigation. |
| "As the case has developed we have been carefully examining and assessing the evidence to come to a charging decision at the earliest possible opportunity," she added. | |
| "Having carefully considered all the material provided by Merseyside Police I made the decision that there is sufficient evidence and I have authorised that five people should be charged." | "Having carefully considered all the material provided by Merseyside Police I made the decision that there is sufficient evidence and I have authorised that five people should be charged." |
| Officers praised | |
| A woman who was arrested earlier has been released without charge. | |
| Assistant chief constable Patricia Gallen praised the work of the Merseyside force which has been investigating the shooting for almost eight months. | |
| "Police officers and police staff have been working tirelessly behind the scenes from day one of this investigation," she said. | |
| "It is now a matter for the courts and we will await the outcome of future trials." |