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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Teenager charged with Rhys murder | Teenager charged with Rhys murder |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A 17-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of 11-year-old Liverpool schoolboy Rhys Jones who was shot as he walked home from playing football. | A 17-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of 11-year-old Liverpool schoolboy Rhys Jones who was shot as he walked home from playing football. |
| Gary Kayes, 25, and Melvyn Coy, 24, of Croxteth, and two youths, 15 and 16, are charged with assisting an offender. | Gary Kayes, 25, and Melvyn Coy, 24, of Croxteth, and two youths, 15 and 16, are charged with assisting an offender. |
| The 16-year-old has also been charged with possessing a firearm. | The 16-year-old has also been charged with possessing a firearm. |
| All five will appear at Liverpool Magistrates' Court on Thursday. Rhys was killed by a gunman on a bicycle in Croxteth Park in August 2007. | All five will appear at Liverpool Magistrates' Court on Thursday. Rhys was killed by a gunman on a bicycle in Croxteth Park in August 2007. |
| A total of 13 people were arrested on Tuesday and Wednesday in connection with the youngster's death. | A total of 13 people were arrested on Tuesday and Wednesday in connection with the youngster's death. |
| Three people aged 54, 50 and 49, and a 16-year-old youth have been released on bail pending further inquiries. A 22-year-old man was also bailed on Tuesday night. | Three people aged 54, 50 and 49, and a 16-year-old youth have been released on bail pending further inquiries. A 22-year-old man was also bailed on Tuesday night. |
| Evidence assessed | Evidence assessed |
| A 17-year-old youth remains in custody along with a 20-year-old man who was arrested earlier on Wednesday. | A 17-year-old youth remains in custody along with a 20-year-old man who was arrested earlier on Wednesday. |
| A 21-year-old woman has been released without charge. | A 21-year-old woman has been released without charge. |
| Police and Crown Prosecution Service statements | |
| 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. |
| Officers praised | Officers praised |
| "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. | "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." |
| Assistant chief constable Patricia Gallen praised the work of the Merseyside force which has been investigating the shooting for almost eight months. | Assistant chief constable Patricia Gallen praised the work of the Merseyside force which has been investigating the shooting for almost eight months. |
| "We have got to this stage in the inquiry through painstaking, determined investigations," she said. | "We have got to this stage in the inquiry through painstaking, determined investigations," she said. |