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| Man found 'Rhys suspect' bicycle | |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| A man has told the Rhys Jones murder trial how he found a mountain bike alledgedly owned by the suspect hidden in bushes a day after the shooting. | |
| The Specialized Hardrock cycle, which did not have its wheels, was found by Lesley Shimmin four miles from the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth Park, Liverpool. | The Specialized Hardrock cycle, which did not have its wheels, was found by Lesley Shimmin four miles from the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth Park, Liverpool. |
| Liverpool Crown Court heard Mr Shimmin took it home and left it in his garden until recognising it after an appeal. | Liverpool Crown Court heard Mr Shimmin took it home and left it in his garden until recognising it after an appeal. |
| Sean Mercer, 18, of Good Shepherd Close in Croxteth, denies murder. | Sean Mercer, 18, of Good Shepherd Close in Croxteth, denies murder. |
| Prosecutors say Rhys, 11, was struck by one of three bullets fired by Mr Mercer across the car park of the pub on 22 August 2007. | |
| Jurors have previously been told that the serial number of the bike matches the serial number of a bicycle provided to Mr Mercer by an insurance company to replace a stolen bike. | |
| On Wednesday, Mr Shimmin told the jury he was cycling along Arbour Lane, on Kirkby Industrial Estate, last summer when he found the bicycle. | |
| 'Good condition' | |
| Questioned by Neil Flewitt QC, prosecuting, he said it had been placed underneath a bush which was behind iron bars at the side of the road. | |
| He said: "It was missing its wheels. It looked like an expensive bike to me. It was in good condition and had the word Specialized on it." | |
| Mr Shimmin was shown CCTV footage of the industrial estate - recorded on 23 August 2007 - and said he he recognised himself and his group. | |
| He took the bike home to restore and stored it in his garden until he saw a picture of a similar bike in the Liverpool Echo in February 2008. | |
| Jurors have previously been told that the serial number of the bike matches the serial number of a bicycle provided to Mr Mercer by an insurance company to replace a stolen bike. | |
| Six other defendants deny assisting an offender. The trial continues. |