Rhys Jones: Police hunt for crucial witnesses

Oct 20 2007

A CRUCIAL witness to the murder of Rhys Jones is believed to have attended a vigil to the 11-year-old days after his death, police said last night.

Murder squad detectives investigating the Rhys's killing revealed their belief as they announced a campaign to find two crucial witnesses.

Rhys, 11, was shot through the neck on August 22 in Croxteth Park.

He died in his mother’s arms in the car park of the Fir Tree pub after walking home from football training.

Almost two months on, officers have arrested 18 people but no one has been charged over the Everton fan’s death.

Today, detectives said they wanted to speak to a boy believed to have been cycling close to the murder scene 15 minutes before Rhys was shot.

The same boy was seen on September 2 at a vigil held for the schoolboy held in Croxteth Park.

Officers also renewed their appeal for the female driver of a red car that is believed to have nearly knocked the killer down as he escaped from the scene.

A billboard on Oak Lane near Croxteth will be erected appealing for her to contact police.

Merseyside Police have organised the delivery of 1,000 letters to homes in Croxteth Park in an attempt to find her.

Beat officers have already toured the neighbourhood knocking on the doors of houses with red cars.

Speaking as officers expected forensic results back from a number of guns seized on Merseyside during the last few weeks, Assistant Chief Constable Patricia Gallan, said: ``Detective Superintendent Dave Kelly would like to appeal to a young boy who we believe was outside the Fir Tree pub at around 7.15pm on the night of Rhys' murder.

“He also attended the vigil at Croxteth Country Park on Sunday September 2.”

The boy is white, aged 13 to 14, with short fair hair. He was wearing a white T-shirt, grey trousers and was riding a silver BMX bike.

Mrs Gallan added: “We are continuing to make good progress with the investigation and are following a number of positive lines of inquiry.

“Merseyside Police would also like to thank the community for their help and support.

“Everyone who has come forward and everyone we have traced, who was present at the scene, has given a statement and assisted the investigation.

“There is always a chance that there are people who have not come forward because they may have some concerns.

“The investigation team would like to appeal to those people to come forward and assist the investigation.

“As we have previously said, there are measures that can be put in place to support any such person giving evidence.”

Rhys’ murder was the subject of a BBC1 Crimewatch reconstruction earlier this month.

Dozens of callers contacted the programme, 12 of them naming the same suspect.