Rhys Jones: Police pursuing "positive lines" of inquiry

Oct 16 2007 By Caroline Innes, Liverpool Daily Post

POLICE investigating the death of 11-year-old Rhys Jones told his inquest they were pursuing several "positive lines" of inquiry.

A detective gave an update during the brief resumption of the inquest yesterday which was attended by the young Everton fan’s parents Stephen, 44, and Melanie, 41.

Acting Detective Superintendent Dave Kelly from Merseyside Police also used the opportunity to again urge those closest to the killer to come forward.

Asked by Liverpool coroner Andre Rebello whether there were active lines of inquiry, he replied:  "Yes. A number of positive lines of inquiry that are ongoing."

Rhys was shot through the neck as he walked home from football training in the Fir Tree Pub car park in Croxteth Park on Wednesday August 22.

Now both papers will support an appeal to raise £100,000 in memory of Rhys by building a community centre in his name close to his home.

While three police officers stood guard outside Liverpool Coroner’s Court in the Cotton Exchange, acting DS Kelly said there had been "significant co-operation" from people in Liverpool but those closest to the killer had not contacted police.

He said: "I would ask them to look at the devastation caused to this family and to please come forward."

It is nearly two months since the football-mad youngster was killed by a single bullet.

Murder squad officers are investigating the theory that Rhys was an innocent bystander hit by a bullet from a Croxteth Crew member.

It is believed the shot was intended for a rival Strand Gang member - from nearby Norris Green - who was yards away in an adjacent car park.

Mr Rebello said: "I opened this inquest on August 29 and adjourned it until today whilst the police investigation into this heinous, tragic event was investigated."

He again adjourned the inquest until December 4 at 1pm.

To date detectives have arrested 18 people on suspicion of murder but nobody has yet been charged with the schoolboy’s murder.

The Liverpool Daily Post, with sister paper The Echo, has been running the Liverpool Unites campaign.

Already the campaign, which has seen 170,000 people wearing purple ribbons in support of its anti-gun aims, has shown the strength of feeling across the city at the tragic death of an innocent child.

Since a memorial fund was announced in the aftermath of Rhys’s shooting in, £252,850 has been raised.

But it falls short of what is needed to create a community centre.

Conservative estimates put the price of such a development at least £1.2m, but costs could spiral and so the Liverpool Unites hopes to raise £100,000 to put towards the fund.

Land set aside for a community building has already been earmarked - with supporters hoping the project will bring people of all ages together.

Rhys’s favourite sport, football, will feature prominently, with all-weather soccer pitches forming an integral part of the design.

His parents Melanie and Stephen said: "It will be the best tribute to our son we could possibly think of and we urge people everywhere to support the project."

carolineinnes@dailypost.co.uk