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| Father's poem for footballer son | Father's poem for footballer son |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The father of murdered 11-year-old Rhys Jones, who was shot as he walked home after football practice, has written a poem dedicated to his son. | The father of murdered 11-year-old Rhys Jones, who was shot as he walked home after football practice, has written a poem dedicated to his son. |
| In the poem, Stephen Jones describes how he imagines his son playing football in heaven with George Best, Dixie Dean and Bobby Moore. | In the poem, Stephen Jones describes how he imagines his son playing football in heaven with George Best, Dixie Dean and Bobby Moore. |
| Eleven teenagers have been questioned by Merseyside police over Rhys's shooting on 22 August. | Eleven teenagers have been questioned by Merseyside police over Rhys's shooting on 22 August. |
| Police have also appealed for a man who had "key information" to call them. | Police have also appealed for a man who had "key information" to call them. |
| Stephen Jones's poem speaks of how God wanted a football match held in heaven, and needed to select 11 players. | |
| It reads: "Georgie Best, big Brian Labone, the legend Dixie Dean, Alan Ball and Bobby Moore, all made it in the team. | It reads: "Georgie Best, big Brian Labone, the legend Dixie Dean, Alan Ball and Bobby Moore, all made it in the team. |
| So Rhys plays now so happily, to the angels in the crowd, and every time he hits the net, they roar his name so loud Stephen Jones's poem class="" href="/1/hi/england/merseyside/6970648.stm">Poem for Rhys Jones | |
| "He needed one more player, someone who would be quick, from up above he looked down, and saw Rhys there in his kit... | "He needed one more player, someone who would be quick, from up above he looked down, and saw Rhys there in his kit... |
| "So Rhys plays now so happily, to the angels in the crowd, and every time he hits the net they roar his name so loud." | "So Rhys plays now so happily, to the angels in the crowd, and every time he hits the net they roar his name so loud." |
| Brave caller | Brave caller |
| Speaking about the ongoing hunt for Rhys's killer, Det Supt Dave Kelly, from Merseyside Police, said a man had called them on Saturday at about 2320 BST. | |
| He said: "There is one man who has rung in and provided key information and I thank him for making that call. He is very brave. | He said: "There is one man who has rung in and provided key information and I thank him for making that call. He is very brave. |
| "I will personally speak to you and I will look after you by whatever methods we have available to us. | "I will personally speak to you and I will look after you by whatever methods we have available to us. |
| Rhys's parents said they will answer every card they receive | |
| "I would like to say this to the killer - what you have done is wrong, we need to deal with you. | "I would like to say this to the killer - what you have done is wrong, we need to deal with you. |
| "It is only a matter of time before we get you. Please come forward for the family's sake." | "It is only a matter of time before we get you. Please come forward for the family's sake." |
| Rhys's parents said they had drawn strength from the support people had given them since Rhys was killed. | Rhys's parents said they had drawn strength from the support people had given them since Rhys was killed. |
| 'Ordinary family' | 'Ordinary family' |
| The couple have also said they will answer every card, letter or message that has been sent to them since their 11-year-old son was murdered. | The couple have also said they will answer every card, letter or message that has been sent to them since their 11-year-old son was murdered. |
| Mr Jones, a Tesco store manager, said: "Every morning we take an hour for ourselves and go through every piece of mail that has arrived that day. | Mr Jones, a Tesco store manager, said: "Every morning we take an hour for ourselves and go through every piece of mail that has arrived that day. |
| Mrs Jones said: "I will answer every card, letter or message that has a return address on it. I don't care how long it takes. | Mrs Jones said: "I will answer every card, letter or message that has a return address on it. I don't care how long it takes. |
| "We are just an ordinary family from Croxteth Park and these people who last week had no idea who we were have taken time out to write and offer their support. | "We are just an ordinary family from Croxteth Park and these people who last week had no idea who we were have taken time out to write and offer their support. |
| "To get so many messages has given us such a strength." | "To get so many messages has given us such a strength." |
| Rhys police search wood | Rhys police search wood |
| Rhys, 11, was shot by a teenager on a BMX bike near the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth as he walked home from playing football. | Rhys, 11, was shot by a teenager on a BMX bike near the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth as he walked home from playing football. |
| Detectives had previously arrested and released 11 teenage suspects, four without charge and seven on police bail. | Detectives had previously arrested and released 11 teenage suspects, four without charge and seven on police bail. |
| They have also pledged that anonymity will be given to witnesses. | They have also pledged that anonymity will be given to witnesses. |
| Special measures have been agreed with the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure those who give evidence in court will be allowed to use video links or sit behind a screen. | Special measures have been agreed with the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure those who give evidence in court will be allowed to use video links or sit behind a screen. |
| Officers searching nearby Dam Wood near the Croxteth Park estate discovered two guns but said they were not connected to the fatal shooting of Rhys Jones. | Officers searching nearby Dam Wood near the Croxteth Park estate discovered two guns but said they were not connected to the fatal shooting of Rhys Jones. |