Rhys Jones: Parents come face to face with accused

Apr 17 2008 by Ben Rossington

THE parents of Liverpool schoolboy Rhys Jones came face to face with the teenager accused of killing their 11-year-old son for the first time today.

Melanie and Stephen Jones were in the gallery at Liverpool Magistrates Court to see the 17-year-old Croxteth youth charged with shooting Everton fan Rhys.

Mrs Jones, wearing a pendant with a picture of her son, dabbed tears from her eyes as the teenager was brought up into the dock from the cells below.

Mr Jones held his wifes hand as they listened intently to proceedings.

The dark-haired boy, who we are not allowed to name for legal reasons, was flanked by two guards amidst almost unprecedented security at the court.

Police surrounded the building and were in force on both floors of the two-storey Dale Street complex.

Airport-style metal detectors were installed outside the small courtroom and members of the public were made to surrender mobile phones before being allowed in.

Inside police stood guard at both entrances to the courtroom while the man who led the investigation, Det Supt Dave Kelly, sat to the side of the defence solicitors taking notes.

During the eight-minute hearing the accused, dressed in a hooded tracksuit and T-shirt, spoke only to confirm his name and address.

His mother sat next to his defence solicitor and looked around as he was brought into court.

The boy was remanded in custody until Friday, April 25 when he will appear before Liverpools Youth Court via video-link.

Five other people, two men and three youths, were due in court later today charged in connection with Rhys death on August 22, 2007.

Melvyn Coy, 24, and Gary Kayes, 25, both of Croxteth, are charged with assisting an offender.

Three youths, two aged 16 and one aged 17, also face charges of assisting an offender.

One of the 16-year-olds is also accused of possessing a gun.

Evertonian Rhys, who was due to start at Fazakerley High School just weeks after he was gunned down, was shot as he walked home from football practice near his Croxteth Park home.

Detectives investigating the little boys death arrested 12 people following a series of dawn raids in the Croxteth area on Tuesday.

A thirteenth was arrested the next day.

A man, 49, two women, 50 and 54, and another 16-year-old boy were yesterday released on bail pending further inquiries.

A 20-year-old man was today still being quizzed after being arrested on suspicion of murder yesterday.

A woman, 21, was released without charge last night.