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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Man found 'Rhys suspect' bicycle | Man found 'Rhys suspect' bicycle |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A man found a mountain bike, allegedly owned by the man accused of killing Rhys Jones, hidden in bushes a day after the shooting, a court has heard. | |
| 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. | 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 the serial number of the bike matched 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. | 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' | '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. | 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." | 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 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. | 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. |
| Bicycle in court | |
| The bicycle frame was later brought into court and shown to the jury. | |
| James Yates, 20, of Dodman Road and Nathan Quinn, 18, 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. | |
| It is the prosecution case that after the shooting Mr Mercer cycled to the home of Boy M where he met with Mr Yates and Mr Quinn. | |
| A teenage witness told the jury he collected the mountain bike from Boy M's home and cycled to a local playing field where he played football. | |
| A relative of Mr Mercer's was among those playing football and told police he then took the bicycle to the defendant's home and left it in the porch. | |
| The trial continues. |