Boy tells of moment Rhys was shot

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A boy has described the moment he saw a gunman shoot dead 11-year-old Rhys Jones in a Liverpool pub car park.

A tape recording of the boy's account of the evening of 22 August 2007 was played at the city's crown court.

The jurors heard how the 11-year-old boy was sitting outside the Fir Tree Pub in Croxteth when he "saw a lad pointing a gun at something".

Sean Mercer, 18, of Good Shepherd Close, Croxteth, denies murder. Six others face charges with Mr Mercer.

'Loud bang'

The witness, who was 10 at the time and cannot be identified, said: "I don't (know) what he was pointing at, I couldn't see.

"I thought it was nothing because it was light, it was only half seven.

"I carried on talking and then I heard a big loud bang. Then there was a pause and then there were another two shots from the lad.

"Then he went on the bike and I went into the pub.

"My dad went over (to Rhys) and all the people were around him."

Alleyway escape

The boy could not see the gunman's face but described him as being dressed in a black jacket and tracksuit bottoms, with a black hood over his head.

The boy said he watched the gunman for about three to five seconds before the gunman fled the scene by cycling down an alleyway.

On Tuesday the jury heard Rhys's mother, Melanie Jones, describe how she cradled her son as paramedics tried to save his life.

In a witness statement read out at the trial on Tuesday, Mrs Jones said she was told of the shooting by the coach of her son's football team.

James Yates, 20, of Dodman Road, Croxteth, Gary Kays, 25, of Mallard Close, and Melvin Coy, 24, of Abbeyfield Drive, both West Derby, Liverpool, are accused of assisting an offender alongside two boys aged 16 and 17, who cannot be identified.

A second 17-year-old boy has been charged with assisting an offender and possessing a firearm and ammunition. All deny the charges.

The trial continues.