Melanie and Stephen Jones, parents of Rhys Jones _320
He added: “To call it a disgrace is not a fair and balanced view. In all probability the judge got it spot on.
“As a lawyer, one always hopes for the shortest sentence possible. Obviously we would have liked the sentence to have been a little bit less. We’re not criticising the sentence that was passed.”
Yates, of Dodman Road, Croxteth, was sentenced along with Nathan Quinn, 18, and Dean Kelly, 17.
Quinn of Wicket Close, Croxteth, who is already serving a five year sentence for guns, was jailed for two years for assisting an offender which will be served once his current jail term ends in 2010.
Kelly, of Sword Walk, Croxteth, was jailed for four years after he was convicted of assisting an offender, two counts of possession of a firearm and one of possessing ammunition.
Mr and Mrs Jones were last night unavailable for comment.
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