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| Rhys trial told of suspect threat | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The teenager accused of murdering Rhys Jones had previously told a girl the alleged target for the shooting was going to "get it", a court has heard. | The teenager accused of murdering Rhys Jones had previously told a girl the alleged target for the shooting was going to "get it", a court has heard. |
| Rhys, 11, was shot in Croxteth Park, Liverpool, last August after getting in the way of an alleged gang war. | Rhys, 11, was shot in Croxteth Park, Liverpool, last August after getting in the way of an alleged gang war. |
| The prosecution claims Sean Mercer, 18, shot at alleged gang member Wayne Brady but accidentally hit Rhys. Mr Mercer denies murder at Liverpool Crown Court. | The prosecution claims Sean Mercer, 18, shot at alleged gang member Wayne Brady but accidentally hit Rhys. Mr Mercer denies murder at Liverpool Crown Court. |
| A 16-year-old girl said Mr Mercer had once told her: "[Brady's] getting it." | A 16-year-old girl said Mr Mercer had once told her: "[Brady's] getting it." |
| The prosecution claims Mr Mercer, of Good Shepherd Close, Croxteth, was a member of the Croxteth Crew gang and fired three shots at alleged members of rival group, the Strand Gang. | The prosecution claims Mr Mercer, of Good Shepherd Close, Croxteth, was a member of the Croxteth Crew gang and fired three shots at alleged members of rival group, the Strand Gang. |
| Sean Mercer allegedly said his intended victim was "going to get it" | |
| The jury has been told the second bullet hit Rhys as he made his way across a pub car park on his way home from football practice. | The jury has been told the second bullet hit Rhys as he made his way across a pub car park on his way home from football practice. |
| The 16-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was giving evidence in court from behind a curtain to protect her identity. | The 16-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was giving evidence in court from behind a curtain to protect her identity. |
| When she was asked by Neil Flewitt QC, for the prosecution, if Mr Mercer explained his words, she said: "No. This was years ago, he was just messing, winding me up." | When she was asked by Neil Flewitt QC, for the prosecution, if Mr Mercer explained his words, she said: "No. This was years ago, he was just messing, winding me up." |
| She said Mr Mercer and Mr Brady had once been friends but stopped speaking, although she did not know why. | She said Mr Mercer and Mr Brady had once been friends but stopped speaking, although she did not know why. |
| 'Never happened' | |
| The girl said she never mentioned to Mr Brady, or anybody who knew him, what she had been told by Mr Mercer. | |
| Richard Pratt QC, defending Mr Mercer, said his client had no memory of the reported conversation and put it to the girl that it never happened. | |
| She replied that it did. | |
| Six others face charges alongside Mr Mercer. | |
| James Yates, 20, of Dodman Road, Croxteth; Mr Kays, of Mallard Close, and Mr Coy, of Abbeyfield Drive, both West Derby, Liverpool, are accused of assisting an offender. | |
| Two youths aged 16 and 17, who can only be identified as Boy M and Boy Q, also deny the same charge. | |
| A sixth person, a 17-year-old known as Boy K, denies assisting an offender and possessing an illegal firearm and ammunition. |