Witness to Rhys’s murder urged to contact police

Aug 30 2007 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

A KEY witness to the murder of Rhys Jones, who could provide the vital clue to catching his killer, has come forward.

Police yesterday revealed someone had contacted them anonymously with information about the Croxteth shooting and they are desperate for the caller to get in touch again.

They made the announcement as they appealed to Rhys’s teenage murderer to give himself up.

The 11-year-old was gunned down a week ago yesterday by a youth on a BMX bike in the car park of the Fir Tree pub, close to where the Everton fan had been playing football with his friends.

Yesterday, police continued in their efforts to find the murder weapon, a black hand gun with a long barrel.

Frogmen searched ponds in Dam Wood near to the crime scene. Last night, a gun was recovered from the wood, although police said it was not the one used in the murder.

It comes as the inquest into the death of Rhys Jones was opened and adjourned yesterday with the coroner releasing the boy’s body for his family to start making plans for his funeral.

And last night Liverpool FC captain Steven Gerrard became the latest famous name to appeal for Rhys’s killer to be caught.

Meanwhile, an 11th arrest was made as a local 15-year-old was arrested on suspicion of murder.

Speaking at the scene of the murder yesterday, Acting Superintendent Dave Kelly, senior investigating officer on the case, appealed to the key witness to come forward.

“We have had a man telephone us with key information and I am grateful for that. He is very brave,” he said.

“I would appeal personally to him to please get back in touch again.

“ I will speak with you myself if that is what you want. There are special measures and provisions we can put in place to support and protect you.

“Please think of the family and the terrible hurt they are going through.

“People may think what they have seen is not important, but I urge you to come forward, and I’ll make that decision.

“It may be they think the information they have is trivial, however, it may be key in assisting this investigation.”

Supt Kelly said the investigation was closing in on the gunman, and said: “The killer will be aware of the impact this has had on the family and upon this community. He knows who he is.

“Do the honourable thing and give yourself up. It is only a matter of time before we get you.”

He walked journalists around the crime scene and revealed the timetable of events leading up to Rhys’s murder would have taken no more than three minutes.

The killer would have fired the gun three times and made his getaway in around 30 seconds and Rhys, who was hit in the neck, “was not targeted”.

Police say they still do not have a motive for the killing.

West Derby MP Bob Wareing visited the scene yesterday afternoon to lay a large floral bouquet.

Hundreds of tributes, flowers, Everton FC mementoes and toys from across the country now lie across the grass verge outside the Fir Tree.

Wearing an Everton FC tie, Mr Wareing offered his condolences to the Jones family, and said that more visible policing needed to be made a priority in his constituency.

He said: “The police do a wonderful job but they really are stretched. They need to spend money on getting police walking around, to be seen on the streets.

“If we can spend billions of pounds on the futility of Iraq, we can afford more to see an area like this is properly policed.”

vickyanderson@dailypost.co.uk