Rhys Jones's parents speak of their Christmas anguish

Dec 14 2007 By Caroline Innes, Daily Post Staff

THE family of Rhys Jones say they are dreading waking up on Christmas Day morning knowing their youngest son will not be there with them.

Four months after the 11-year-old was shot dead as he walked home from football practice, his parents Melanie and Stephen said they have no idea how they are going to face Christmas - their first without Rhys.

In an emotional statement the family from Croxteth Park, said while they were wondering how they would get through this emotional time of year they hoped the poignancy of Christmas would force the person who shot dead their son to search his soul and admit to Rhys’s brutal murder.

They said: “We wonder what the person who fired the shot that killed Rhys will be doing this Christmas.

“Will he think about Rhys and the devastation he has caused?

“And those close to him, who know what he has done - how will they be celebrating?

“Are they getting ready for Christmas?

“How can they carry on getting ready to celebrate and not think about Rhys.”

Rhys died after he was shot near to the car park of the Fir Tree public house, Fir Tree Drive South, Croxteth, on Wednesday August 22.

It is believed he was an innocent victim caught up in rival gang feuds.

Mr and Mrs Jones and their eldest son Owen, are still trying to come to terms with their loss.

They said: “Christmas is a time for family.

“It’s a time when everyone comes together. But this year Christmas will be an empty experience for us.

“Like most families once you have your first child, Christmas takes on a new meaning.

“The run-up to Christmas Day is frantic, getting all the presents in, wrapping them up and watching your childrens’ faces light up when they open their presents.

“Since our eldest son, Owen, was born we, like most families have developed our own little routines over the years.

“We’d buy the kids news pyjamas to be worn on Christmas Eve.

“The boys, Owen and Rhys, would go to bed early and we would spend Christmas Eve wrapping their presents and looking forward to the following morning.

“Rhys loved Christmas and the build up to it and on Christmas Day he’d take an hour out to go and deliver presents to his friends, then it was back home waiting for the rest of the family, uncles, aunties and cousins, to arrive for a full-blown Christmas Dinner.

“For us Christmas was a real family get together - the house would be heaving and you’d be tripping over each other.

“After dinner we’d clear the decks and get out the boys’ pool table for a family tournament.

“Rhys didn’t like losing and if he had a difficult shot, and for some reason his opponent was distracted, you could guarantee he’d quickly reposition one of the balls to his advantage.

“Rhys was a real live wire and life and soul of the Christmas party, he loved the atmosphere and revelled in the excitement of the whole family being together.

“Just contemplating Christmas this year is difficult.

“It’s certainly going to be a quiet Christmas and we just don’t know how we’re going to face

waking up on Christmas morning knowing that Rhys isn’t going to be there to rip off the wrapping paper from his presents, posing for the video as we proudly record the events throughout the day.

“Our lives have always revolved around our children and we know we need to be there for Owen.

“Life can’t stop.

“But the loss of Rhys has left a huge, empty void, that can never be filled. And our lives, not just Christmas, will never be the same.”

The family then made a direct appeal to the family of Rhys’s killer as while so far 20 people have been arrested in connection with Rhys’s murder, no-one has yet been charged by police.

Detectives have questioned 18 people on suspicion of murder, releasing five who are potential witnesses and bailing the other 13 while inquiries continue.

Two other teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of harbouring the gun used to kill Rhys.

Rhys’s family added: “Surely, they must realise the enormity of what has happened here

“They must realise that our family has been left devastated following the death of our11-year-old son and brother. Maybe Christmas and New Year, a time for

family and reflection, will hit home and they’ll finally do the right thing.”