This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/merseyside/7892457.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Mother of Rhys' killer admits lie | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The mother of Rhys Jones's killer has been warned she faces jail after admitting lying to police investigating the schoolboy's murder. | |
| Janette Mercer, 49, pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice at Liverpool Crown Court. | Janette Mercer, 49, pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice at Liverpool Crown Court. |
| Her son, Sean Mercer, 18, was jailed for life for the 11-year-old's murder. | Her son, Sean Mercer, 18, was jailed for life for the 11-year-old's murder. |
| Mrs Mercer, of Good Shepherd Close, Croxteth, had previously denied lying about what happened to her son's mountain bike after Rhys was shot dead. | Mrs Mercer, of Good Shepherd Close, Croxteth, had previously denied lying about what happened to her son's mountain bike after Rhys was shot dead. |
| She was bailed until 1 April at the short hearing, where Judge Henry Globe said: "She is completely guilty of a serious offence. | |
| "I cannot envisage passing anything other than an immediate custodial sentence." | "I cannot envisage passing anything other than an immediate custodial sentence." |
| Rhys' parents Stephen and Melanie were present in court. | Rhys' parents Stephen and Melanie were present in court. |
| Admitted lies | Admitted lies |
| Mrs Mercer had formally denied the charge when she appeared at court the day before her son went on trial for Rhys' murder last year. | Mrs Mercer had formally denied the charge when she appeared at court the day before her son went on trial for Rhys' murder last year. |
| Sean Mercer shot the schoolboy in the car park of the Fir Tree pub, Croxteth, Liverpool before fleeing on his bike. | Sean Mercer shot the schoolboy in the car park of the Fir Tree pub, Croxteth, Liverpool before fleeing on his bike. |
| Rhys died in the arms of his mother, Melanie, on 22 August 2007. | |
| Merseyside Police gathered evidence against Mercer and six fellow gang members who helped him dispose of his clothing, bike and the murder weapon.Mercer was found guilty of murder after a nine-week trial | Merseyside Police gathered evidence against Mercer and six fellow gang members who helped him dispose of his clothing, bike and the murder weapon.Mercer was found guilty of murder after a nine-week trial |
| Mrs Mercer admitted being present in a police interview with her son when he claimed he did not own a bike which matched the description of the one officers were looking for. | Mrs Mercer admitted being present in a police interview with her son when he claimed he did not own a bike which matched the description of the one officers were looking for. |
| She was later involved in the negotiations with an insurance company to replace her son's bike, but did not tell police. | She was later involved in the negotiations with an insurance company to replace her son's bike, but did not tell police. |
| She also admitted lying to police in a statement she made in September 2007 when she claimed her son only owned one bike and that she had no idea how long he owned it for. | She also admitted lying to police in a statement she made in September 2007 when she claimed her son only owned one bike and that she had no idea how long he owned it for. |
| During the nine-week murder trial the bike used by Mercer, and CCTV footage of it, became key to the prosecution case. | During the nine-week murder trial the bike used by Mercer, and CCTV footage of it, became key to the prosecution case. |
| The parents of James Yates, one of Mercer's accomplices, were charged alongside Mrs Mercer. | The parents of James Yates, one of Mercer's accomplices, were charged alongside Mrs Mercer. |
| Francis and Marie Yates, of Croxteth, are also accused of perverting the course of justice and will stand trial in April. | Francis and Marie Yates, of Croxteth, are also accused of perverting the course of justice and will stand trial in April. |
| Their son, James Yates, 20, of Dodman Road, Croxteth, was convicted of supplying Mercer with the gun used to kill Rhys. | Their son, James Yates, 20, of Dodman Road, Croxteth, was convicted of supplying Mercer with the gun used to kill Rhys. |
| He was sentenced to seven years in prison. | He was sentenced to seven years in prison. |
| Advertisement | |
| Janette Mercer arrives at Liverpool crown court |