Newspaper publishes picture of Rhys Jones 'suspect'

Sep 29 2007 by Staff Reporter, Liverpool Daily Post

THE Sun newspaper has published a photograph on this morning’s front page of a suspect in the murder of Rhys Jones, despite pleas from the police for it to be withheld.

It is claimed the boy, pictured wearing a red Liverpool FC shirt from a previous season, is the suspect named 12 times by viewers of the BBC’s Crimewatch programme.

The photograph is placed next to an image of Rhys wearing his favourite Everton shirt, together with the words “Rhys suspect, the first picture”.

Police had asked the media to exercise discretion with the photograph to avoid the boy being identified and jeopardising any future case.

The photograph is pixelated to hide the suspect’s face, but the newspaper has revealed details of the boy, claiming he is a keen footballer, an avid Liverpool fan who talks fondly of his mother, and makes his money by running drugs for gangsters in the area.