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Crimewatch reappeal for Rhys Mobile appeal for Rhys witnesses
(about 5 hours later)
A second appeal will be made on the BBC Crimewatch programme in the latest attempt to catch Rhys Jones' killer. Police investigating the killing of 11-year-old Rhys Jones are sending issuing appeals directly to mobile phones in a bid for more information.
The renewed appeal comes two months after the 11-year-old was shot dead near the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth, Liverpool. Detectives are using a device that can send messages to Bluetooth enabled phones in Croxteth within a 100m radius of the transmitter.
Presenter Fiona Bruce will make the appeal and Merseyside detectives will not appear on the programme. Police have unsuccessfully tried to trace two key witnesses - a woman driving a red car and a boy on a bike.
The last appeal had a reconstruction of the shooting and received 30 calls, 12 giving the same name for the gunman. It is thought to be the first time a UK force has used this technology.
Tonight's appeal is a shorter update than last time, to keep the investigation in people's minds Spokesman for Merseyside Police It is now over two months since the Everton fan was shot as he walked home from football practice.
The earlier Crimewatch appeal also featured a direct plea from the schoolboy's mother, Melanie Jones, for her son's killer to hand himself in. The transmitter is based in a police car patrolling the Croxteth and Croxteth Park area on Monday afternoon and evening.
So far police have made 18 arrests, but nobody been charged with the Everton fan's murder. The messages will be appealing for information on the gunman and a woman driving a red car who nearly knocked over a cyclist just after Rhys was shot.
A spokesman for Merseyside Police said: "Tonight's appeal is a shorter update than last time, to keep the investigation in people's minds." We are trialling this new technology to see if it can reach new people Det Supt Dave Kelly Another message asks for more information about a boy aged about 13 or 14-years old seen riding a silver BMX bike outside the Fir Tree pub at about 1915 BST on the night of the murder.
Officers have also arranged for an advertising board to be placed at the entrance to Oak Lane, appealing for the driver of the red car to contact police.
The senior investigating officer, Det Supt Dave Kelly, said: "These appeals could provide information which is vital to our investigation.
"We are trialling this new technology to see if it can reach new people."
Crimewatch appeal
A second appeal will also be made on the BBC Crimewatch programme in an attempt to catch Rhys Jones' killer.
The last appeal, including a reconstruction of the shooting, received 30 calls, 12 giving the same name for the gunman.
So far police have made 18 arrests, but nobody been charged.
Last week letters were sent to three thousand homes in the Croxteth area by police in the hope of tracing a key witness.Last week letters were sent to three thousand homes in the Croxteth area by police in the hope of tracing a key witness.
Detectives are desperate to speak to a woman in a red car.
Police believe she drove past moments after the murder on 22 August and may have almost run over the killer as he fled on his mountain bike.