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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Rhys witness told 'change story' | Rhys witness told 'change story' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The teenager accused of the murder of Rhys Jones asked a key witness to change her story, a court heard. | The teenager accused of the murder of Rhys Jones asked a key witness to change her story, a court heard. |
| On a police recording the accused, Sean Mercer, can be heard telling the grandmother of a co-defendant to say he was at her home on a different day. | |
| The woman, the grandmother of accused boy, M, earlier told the jury she saw Mr Mercer, 18, at her home on the night Rhys was shot dead in Croxteth Park. | |
| At Liverpool Crown Court Mr Mercer has pleaded not guilty to murder. | At Liverpool Crown Court Mr Mercer has pleaded not guilty to murder. |
| He has claimed he was elsewhere on the day of the shooting on 22 August 2007. | He has claimed he was elsewhere on the day of the shooting on 22 August 2007. |
| The court heard the bug was placed in the home of Boy M, 16, after he had been arrested and his relatives had given police statements. | The court heard the bug was placed in the home of Boy M, 16, after he had been arrested and his relatives had given police statements. |
| During his grandmother's cross-examination by Tim Clarke, defending Boy M, recordings were played which appeared to show attempts to get her to change her mind about the day of Mr Mercer's visit. | During his grandmother's cross-examination by Tim Clarke, defending Boy M, recordings were played which appeared to show attempts to get her to change her mind about the day of Mr Mercer's visit. |
| I don't know what all this lying is about Tape recording of Boy M's grandmother | I don't know what all this lying is about Tape recording of Boy M's grandmother |
| In one, a voice which Mr Clark said was Sean Mercer, says: "You have to say it was Tuesday." | In one, a voice which Mr Clark said was Sean Mercer, says: "You have to say it was Tuesday." |
| The grandmother replied: "I'm not saying it was Tuesday." | The grandmother replied: "I'm not saying it was Tuesday." |
| The male voice told her she had it "wrong" adding: "You better change it." | The male voice told her she had it "wrong" adding: "You better change it." |
| She was then told to say she had "a bad memory". | She was then told to say she had "a bad memory". |
| She replied: "I'm not changing. I've signed the statement. My mind's gone." | She replied: "I'm not changing. I've signed the statement. My mind's gone." |
| 'Went white' | 'Went white' |
| In another recording, the grandmother is heard telling an unknown person: "I said (to Mercer), if you haven't done it you've got nothing to worry about. I don't know what all this lying is about. | In another recording, the grandmother is heard telling an unknown person: "I said (to Mercer), if you haven't done it you've got nothing to worry about. I don't know what all this lying is about. |
| "He said, 'I know, I know', but he went white." | "He said, 'I know, I know', but he went white." |
| Richard Pratt QC, defending Mr Mercer, disputed that it was his client speaking in much of the recordings. | Richard Pratt QC, defending Mr Mercer, disputed that it was his client speaking in much of the recordings. |
| Cross examining Boy M's grandmother, he said: "I suggest during the course of the conversation, Sean Mercer contributed little. It was (Boy M) wasn't it?" | Cross examining Boy M's grandmother, he said: "I suggest during the course of the conversation, Sean Mercer contributed little. It was (Boy M) wasn't it?" |
| Rhys was shot outside The Fir Tree pub in Croxteth | Rhys was shot outside The Fir Tree pub in Croxteth |
| Mr Pratt added: "Sean Mercer never told you to change your story at all." | Mr Pratt added: "Sean Mercer never told you to change your story at all." |
| The grandmother replied: "He did. He said to say it was Tuesday. | The grandmother replied: "He did. He said to say it was Tuesday. |
| "(Boy M) said it then Mercer said it. And I said 'if you've got nothing to worry about, you don't have to lie or anything'." | "(Boy M) said it then Mercer said it. And I said 'if you've got nothing to worry about, you don't have to lie or anything'." |
| Rhys was shot in the car park of the Fir Tree pub and died in his mother Melanie's arms. | Rhys was shot in the car park of the Fir Tree pub and died in his mother Melanie's arms. |
| The prosecution says he was hit by one of three bullets allegedly fired by Mr Mercer, of Good Shepherd Close, Croxteth, Liverpool. | The prosecution says he was hit by one of three bullets allegedly fired by Mr Mercer, of Good Shepherd Close, Croxteth, Liverpool. |
| James Yates, 20, of Dodman Road; Nathan Quinn, of Wickett Close, both Croxteth; Gary Kays, 25, of Mallard Close and Melvin Coy, 24, of Abbeyfield Drive, both West Derby, Liverpool, are accused of assisting an offender along with Boy M, 16, and Boy K, 17, who cannot be named. | James Yates, 20, of Dodman Road; Nathan Quinn, of Wickett Close, both Croxteth; Gary Kays, 25, of Mallard Close and Melvin Coy, 24, of Abbeyfield Drive, both West Derby, Liverpool, are accused of assisting an offender along with Boy M, 16, and Boy K, 17, who cannot be named. |
| All six deny the charges. | All six deny the charges. |