Fresh appeal for key callers to contact police about Rhys Jones

Sep 1 2007

Detectives hunting the killer of schoolboy Rhys Jones were today urging two key people who contacted them with information to get back in touch.

Acting Det Supt Dave Kelly, who is leading the murder hunt, was keen to speak to a person who called Crimestoppers on Friday, August 24 and reported seeing a man on a mobile phone.

Officers are also keen to speak to a man who called police at 11.20pm the following night.

Detectives last night released four more men arrested in connection with the murder inquiry - bringing the total number of people arrested and released to 16.

Rhys died after he was shot in the neck close to the car park of the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth, Liverpool while walking home after football practise.

He was gunned down by a hooded youth riding a BMX bicycle on the evening of August 22.

The youngster was rushed to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital with the gunshot wound but later died.

Eleven people have now been arrested and bailed with a further five being arrested and released without charge. These five are now being treated as witnesses.

Acting Det Supt Kelly added: “People are aware that we have described one individual firing a gun but, as with any offence, there are various stages and elements to it, including where the gun came from and what happened afterwards.

“When we have grounds to suspect people involved in any stage, they will be arrested in connection with this offence.”

Police were continuing their search for the gun which killed the young Everton fan, who was hit with a single shot.

Detailed forensic work was also being carried out, with officers pursuing extensive house-to-house inquiries in the area.

Det Supt Kelly said he was anxious to speak again to a caller who rang Crimestoppers last Friday with “significant” information about seeing a male talking on a mobile phone.

“I would appeal for this person to make direct contact with me,” he said.

“We appreciate the information they have supplied but we now want to speak to them directly.

“There’s a lot we can do to protect a witness’s identity and we will use every appropriate measure.

“The information from Crimestoppers was significant but we now need to speak to the caller directly.”

On Wednesday, officers had appealed for another caller to be “brave” and contact them again.

The inquiries continued as Rhys’s mother Melanie, 41, and father, Stephen, 44, prepared for a memorial service for their son on Sunday.

The couple have invited all well-wishers to pay tribute to their boy at his funeral to be held on Thursday.

Thousands are expected to line the streets as the Everton-mad youngster’s hearse draws past Goodison Park to Liverpool’s Anglican cathedral, where mourners have been asked to wear bright colours or football tops in Rhys’s memory.

In the boy’s death notice published yesterday, his parents said: “Rhys, we lost you so suddenly, we keep asking ’why?’, you’ve gone up to heaven to play football in the sky.

“Our hearts are breaking, the pain we can’t describe, till we meet again, to stand side by side.

“Goodnight and God bless son - broken-hearted parents Stephen and Melanie.”

The couple signed off with 11 kisses - one for each year of their son’s life.

Rhys’s brother Owen, 17, left a message reading: “Rhys, you will never be forgotten, always in my heart - Nil Satis Nisi Optimum,” which is Everton FC’s motto, meaning “nothing but the best is good enough”.

The funeral will begin at 2pm and Rhys’s favourite tune - Everton’s Z Cars theme anthem - will be played, it is believed.

The public service will be followed by a private interment, attended only by family and close friends.