Thousands turn out to remember Rhys Jones

Sep 2 2007

A nine-year-old friend of Rhys Jones spoke movingly today of his shock and pain at the death of his friend.

Little Lewis Ainscough, dressed in his Liverpool football kit, stood on a chair to reach the microphone and offered an emotional tribute to the murdered schoolboy.

The youngster read a heart-rendering prayer to the hundreds of wellwishers who braved heavy rains to attend a memorial service at Liverpool’s Croxteth Hall and Country Park.

Rhys’s parents Melanie, 41, and Stephen, 44, lit a candle at the service in memory of their son.
The couple, with Rhys’s brother Owen, 17, sat silently with dignity during the 45-minute community vigil.

Lewis’s simple words summed up the feelings of sadness and sympathy expressed by many who attended the event.

He said the sudden death had been a great shock and asked God to comfort all who had been upset at Rhys’s death.

A small stage was constructed outside the main entrance to the hall and above it was an image of 11-year-old Rhys.

The youngster died after suffering a single gunshot wound to the neck as he walked home from football practice on August 22.

The gunman, who was seen wearing a hooded top, made his escape shortly after the shooting.

Rhys’ mother raced to the scene and cradled her dying son in her arms.

A scarf from his beloved Everton FC was tied to the tiny podium at today’s vigil.

Local residents brought their children to the ceremony, many in the red and blue football strips of the city’s two clubs.

Usually bitter rivals, they were united in a shared sense of sympathy for Rhys’ grieving family and friends.

Parents held their children close as the tribute began with a song by Rachel Harland.

June Simm, a teacher at nearby Fazakerley High School, said  the Croxteth community had experienced “an almost overwhelming sense of grief and sadness”.

She said: “Sadness and grief for a little boy, Rhys Jones, who lost his life in tragic and brutal circumstances.

“We also gather to declare our solidarity with those who are suffering at this time, especially Rhys’ parents,

Melanie and Stephen, his brother Owen, his family, friends and neighbours and we offer our condolences, our prayers and our deepest sympathies to them at this time.”

There were further readings and singing before little Lewis took to the platform.

He said: “Heavenly Father, we are sad this afternoon because someone we knew well and liked very much has died.

“We don’t often think about people dying, especially when they are very young, so this has been a great shock to us.

“We believe that Rhys has gone to be with You.

“But that means that he is not with us any longer, which makes us sad.

“Help us to remember all the good and happy things about him, and please comfort all who are unhappy. Amen.”

There was also a direct appeal to Rhys's killer to come forward and give himself up to police.

Pc Robbie Pritchard, who works in the Croxteth area, said: “I ask you, the person who fired the gun, and you, the people who know what happened that night, how can you look at yourself in the mirror for the rest of your life knowing what you have done?

“I would ask you to face the truth and hand yourself in to police.

“I urge you please for the sake of Rhys and his family to come and tell us what happened.

“Doing nothing is not an option.”

The vigil marked the deaths of all the victims of gun crime, particularly children.

Murder squad detectives have made a total of 16 arrests in connection with the Rhys inquiry but all have been released.

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

The funeral for the youngster will be held on Thursday and his family invited all the city’s wellwishers to attend and pay their respects.

People have been asked to wear their team’s football shirts or bright colours in tribute to Rhys.

Thousands are expected to line the streets as his hearse draws past Goodison Park to Liverpool’s Anglican cathedral.

The funeral will begin at 2pm and Rhys’s favourite tune, Everton’s Z-Cars anthem, is expected to be played. The public service will be followed by a private interment attended by family and close friends.