Rhys sentence referred to appeal

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A seven-year sentence given to a man who supplied a gun used to kill Rhys Jones has been referred to the Court of Appeal as being unduly lenient.

James Yates, 20, of Croxteth, Liverpool, provided the Smith and Wesson handgun used to kill schoolboy Rhys, and helped with its disposal.

The decision was taken by the Solicitor General, Vera Baird QC.

Yates was described by the judge at Liverpool Crown Court as a "willing assistant" to murderer Sean Mercer, 18.

Earlier this month the office of the attorney general revealed it was reviewing the sentence given to Yates.

If the Court of Appeal decides that the sentence is unduly lenient they have the power to increase the length of the sentence Attorney General spokesperson

A statement issued by the office on Wednesday confirmed that Ms Baird, the attorney general's deputy, had referred the case to the Court of Appeal.

"It will now be for the Court of Appeal, at a future hearing, to review the sentence to determine whether it is unduly lenient," said a spokesperson.

"If the Court of Appeal decides that the sentence is unduly lenient they have the power to increase the length of the sentence."

An unduly lenient sentence is one that is significantly below what a judge could reasonably have given at the conclusion of the trial.

Three Court of Appeal judges will now decide whether Yates's sentence should be changed.

Gang members

Speaking after he was sentenced, Rhys's parents Stephen and Melanie Jones said they felt he deserved a longer term.

The decision to look at the Yates case came after representations from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Rhys, 11, died in his mother's arms after he was shot in the car park of the Fir Tree pub, Croxteth Park, on 22 August 2007.

Mercer was jailed for life for his murder.

Yates, of Dodman Road, was found guilty of assisting an offender and possessing a banned firearm and was sentenced in January.

Moves to evict Sean Mercer's mother from her Croxteth home have been postponed at a hearing at Liverpool County Court until after she is sentenced for perverting the course of justice.

Janette Mercer, 49, admitted the charge in connection with Rhys's murder and will be sentenced on 1 April at Liverpool Crown Court.

Riverside Housing Association, asked for the case involving the claim for repossession of the semi-detached home in Good Shepherd Close to be adjourned.