Rhys Jones: Mother makes emotional plea on Crimewatch

Sep 26 2007 By Mike Hornby

The mother of murdered 11-year-old Rhys Jones tonight made an emotional plea to his killer’s mother to hand in her son.

Speaking on the eve of her son’s birthday, Melanie Jones said the family needed to see the killer brought to justice before they could move on.

Her appeal came as CCTV footage of the youngster police suspect of shooting Rhys was broadcast for the first time.

Sitting with her husband Steve as the pair launched an appeal for information on BBC Crimewatch, Mrs Jones, 41, said: “She must know it is him, or she must have some suspicion.”

“Even for his own safety, she should hand him in.

“We can’t rest or try to move on without this person being brought to justice or being caught.”

The footage shows a hooded youngster in a black tracksuit cycling near Fir Tree public house in Croxteth, Liverpool, moments before and after Rhys was shot.

Police estimate the boy is about 16 years old and around 5ft8in tall. They want to speak to anyone who saw him before or after the shooting.

The biker passed in front of a car near the scene of the shooting on August 22, when Rhys was hit on his way home from football practice and the driver may be able to identify him, officers said.

Detective Superintendent Dave Kelly, who is leading the hunt for the killer said: “These images may be grainy but we are sure that if this is your son, grandson, brother, friend or neighbour, you will recognise them from this footage.

“The moving footage on tonight’s show will be particularly revealing, as you will be able to see the cyclist’s mannerisms and movement.

“The offender and any others involved in this need to know we are determined to prosecute those responsible. We are doing everything possible to build up a strong evidential case, which will put those responsible behind bars.”

Mrs Jones told the programme how painful it would be for the family on his birthday.

“When he smiled he just made you feel warm and made you smile back at him,” she said.

“It’s horrible at home. It’s so quiet. It’s never going to be the same again.

“He wanted a new phone for his birthday. He had a little one but he wanted a new one.

“We always go out for Rhys’s birthday, we always go for a Chinese. I don’t know what we are going to do now.”

She also described the moments after she found out her son had been injured and ran to his side.

“When I got there he was just lying there in a pool of blood and I think he was already gone.

“I didn’t want to let him go. He was just lying there with his kit on.

“I said ’Come on, stay with me baby.”’