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Rhys murder suspect faces court Youth remanded over Rhys killing
(about 10 hours later)
A teenager is due in court charged with the murder of 11-year-old Rhys Jones who was shot dead while walking home from football training in Liverpool. A 17-year-old youth has appeared in court charged with murdering Rhys Jones who was shot dead while walking home from football training in Liverpool.
The 17-year-old boy is accused of shooting Rhys in the neck in Croxteth Park on 22 August last year. The teenager is accused of shooting the 11-year-old in the neck in Croxteth Park on 22 August last year.
Also appearing at Liverpool Magistrates Court will be Gary Kayes, 25, and Melvyn Coy, 24, both of Croxteth, and three youths, aged 15, 16 and 17. Gary Kayes, 25, and Melvyn Coy, 24, and three boys aged 15, 16 and 17, are charged with assisting an offender.
They are facing a charge of assisting an offender. All six appeared at Liverpool magistrates where they were remanded in custody until 25 April.
The 16-year-old has also been charged with possessing a firearm. The 16-year-old is also charged with possessing a firearm. All of the defendants are from Croxteth.
'Terrible time' Rhys was killed in the car park of the Fir Tree pub near to his home.
Rhys was killed by a gunman on a bicycle in the car park of the Fir Tree pub near to his home. Security was tight around Liverpool Magistrates' Court
Police arrested 13 people on Tuesday and Wednesday in connection with the youngster's death. Police arrested 13 people in dawn raids on Tuesday and Wednesday in connection with the youngster's death.
Police and Crown Prosecution Service statements Three people aged 49, 50, and 54, and a 16-year-old youth, have been released on bail pending further inquiries.
Three people aged 49, 50, and 54, 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. A man aged 20 remains in custody, while a 21-year-old woman has been released without charge.
A 22-year-old man was also bailed on Tuesday night. Rhys's parents, Stephen and Melanie Jones, were in court for the hearing.
A man aged 20 remains in custody, while a 21-year-old woman has been released without charge. No plea was entered and the facts of the case were not opened.
Detective Superintendent Dave Kelly, of Merseyside Police, paid tribute to Rhys's parents. District Judge Richard Clancy agreed to remand the accused into custody for one week, but said he hoped a trial could be started as soon as possible.
He said: "I would personally like to thank Stephen and Melanie Jones for their support and patience throughout this investigation. He said: "Because he's a youth it's necessary to move the case on as quickly as possible."
"They have shown courage, strength and dignity during what must have been a truly terrible time for them." Addressing the defendant, he said: "You appreciate you are charged with an extremely serious matter.
Assistant Chief Constable Patricia Gallen praised the work of the Merseyside force and added: "We have got to this stage in the inquiry through painstaking, determined investigations." "You'll be remanded, in the first instance to the 25th April at 9.45am. We will try to deal with that by video link."