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| Rhys witness 'saw hooded gunman' | Rhys witness 'saw hooded gunman' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A 14-year-old boy saw a hooded gunman just moments before schoolboy Rhys Jones was shot dead, a court has heard. | A 14-year-old boy saw a hooded gunman just moments before schoolboy Rhys Jones was shot dead, a court has heard. |
| The teenager was sitting with a friend in a tree behind the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth, Liverpool, when 11-year-old Rhys was shot in August 2007. | The teenager was sitting with a friend in a tree behind the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth, Liverpool, when 11-year-old Rhys was shot in August 2007. |
| Liverpool Crown Court was played a taped interview with the witness, who described seeing a teenager ride past him "really fast" on a bike. | Liverpool Crown Court was played a taped interview with the witness, who described seeing a teenager ride past him "really fast" on a bike. |
| Sean Mercer, 18, of Good Shepherd Close, Croxteth, denies murder. | Sean Mercer, 18, of Good Shepherd Close, Croxteth, denies murder. |
| The witness said: "I saw a lad aged about 13 or 14 riding past really fast on a black BMX bike. | The witness said: "I saw a lad aged about 13 or 14 riding past really fast on a black BMX bike. |
| "He had a black tracksuit on and a black hoodie on. | "He had a black tracksuit on and a black hoodie on. |
| I could see Rhys on the floor and everybody was saying 'don't look, don't look' Prosecution witness, aged 14 | |
| "He went around the side of the pub and about three seconds after we lost sight of him we heard the shots." | "He went around the side of the pub and about three seconds after we lost sight of him we heard the shots." |
| He added: "A few seconds after that, he came back riding very quickly. | He added: "A few seconds after that, he came back riding very quickly. |
| "He was trying to put something in his pocket and wobbled his bike and went on to the grass. | "He was trying to put something in his pocket and wobbled his bike and went on to the grass. |
| "My friend jumped off the tree and everybody was shouting to go in the pub." | "My friend jumped off the tree and everybody was shouting to go in the pub." |
| Rhys was killed as he crossed the front car park of the pub on his way home from football training. | Rhys was killed as he crossed the front car park of the pub on his way home from football training. |
| Football friends | Football friends |
| The prosecution allege Mr Mercer fired three shots across the car park, aimed at members of a rival gang. | The prosecution allege Mr Mercer fired three shots across the car park, aimed at members of a rival gang. |
| The second bullet, the jury has been told, struck Rhys in the neck and he died in his mother's arms a short time later. | The second bullet, the jury has been told, struck Rhys in the neck and he died in his mother's arms a short time later. |
| The young witness, who cannot be named, said he knew Rhys as they played in the same junior football league and often spoke after their teams had played each other. | The young witness, who cannot be named, said he knew Rhys as they played in the same junior football league and often spoke after their teams had played each other. |
| Eighteen-year-old Sean Mercer denies killing Rhys Jones | Eighteen-year-old Sean Mercer denies killing Rhys Jones |
| He described in detail the "shiny" black tracksuit and trainers the alleged gunman was wearing as well as the woollen hoodie which came out from under the jacket. | He described in detail the "shiny" black tracksuit and trainers the alleged gunman was wearing as well as the woollen hoodie which came out from under the jacket. |
| He said the sound of the three gunshots was "high pitched" and said he initially thought it was a cap gun. | He said the sound of the three gunshots was "high pitched" and said he initially thought it was a cap gun. |
| He told the police interviewing officer that he then ran with his friend to the front of the pub and saw Rhys on the ground. | He told the police interviewing officer that he then ran with his friend to the front of the pub and saw Rhys on the ground. |
| He said: "I could see Rhys on the floor and everybody was saying 'don't look, don't look'. | He said: "I could see Rhys on the floor and everybody was saying 'don't look, don't look'. |
| "He was on the floor and his head was on the kerb. | "He was on the floor and his head was on the kerb. |
| "All the people were screaming 'he's been shot'." | "All the people were screaming 'he's been shot'." |
| More charges | More charges |
| The witness, who was 13 at the time of the shooting, said he did not realise the boy was Rhys at that time. | The witness, who was 13 at the time of the shooting, said he did not realise the boy was Rhys at that time. |
| He had mistaken Rhys's shinpads for those of another friend. | |
| He said that when they saw Rhys on the ground his friend began to cry and said: "No, no, no." | He said that when they saw Rhys on the ground his friend began to cry and said: "No, no, no." |
| Statements were also read to the court by Neil Flewitt QC, prosecuting, from other people at the scene of the shooting. | |
| Sharon Lynch, 48, was sitting outside the Fir Tree pub near the car park on the evening Rhys was shot. | |
| He held both his arms out very straight. In both hands he held the gun Aimee Boylan, witness | |
| She said she saw a young boy on the floor and went over to him. | |
| Ms Lynch said she put Rhys in the recovery position and spotted a wound on his neck which she described as looking like a "teardrop". | |
| Aimee Boylan, 26, who was with Ms Lynch, said she spotted a teenage boy with a gun just after the shots were fired. | |
| She said: "I initially screamed at the time I heard the loud bang. The male looked at me for around one second then he turned away. | |
| "He held both his arms out very straight. In both hands he held the gun. | |
| "I looked to see a small boy was on the floor." | |
| Six others face charges alongside Mr Mercer. | 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. | 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. | Two youths aged 16 and 17, who can only be identified as Boy M and Boy Q, also deny the same charge. |
| A sixth youth, a 17-year-old known as Boy K, denies assisting an offender and possessing an illegal firearm and ammunition. | A sixth youth, a 17-year-old known as Boy K, denies assisting an offender and possessing an illegal firearm and ammunition. |