New hunt for Rhys Jones murder witness

Oct 20 2007 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

Rhys Jones latest news

POLICE investigating the murder of schoolboy Rhys Jones have launched a series of initiatives to find a crucial witness as the two-month anniversary of the shooting nears.

A thousand leaflets are being distributed across the Croxteth Park estate and a billboard will be put up on Oak Road in a specific attempt to find a woman who may have nearly knocked down the suspected killer as he made his escape on a bike.

Eleven-year-old Rhys was shot dead on August 22 as he walked across the car park of the Fir Tree pub after football practice.

So far there have been 18 arrests in the case, with five of those arrested now acting as witnesses and 13 people still on bail pending further inquiries.

Police revealed last night that a woman who has come forward a number of times following the appeal for the female driver of a red car seen in the area at the time of the murder is not the person they are looking for.

Officers say they also want to speak to a young boy who was at the Fir Tree pub approximately 15 minutes before the incident in which Rhys was killed, and who was seen at the vigil held at Croxteth Country Park on September 2.

Assistant Chief Constable Patricia Gallan said: "We are continuing to make good progress with the investigation and are following a number of positive lines of inquiry.

"Merseyside police would also like to thank the community for their help and support.

“Everyone who has come forward and everyone we have traced, who was present at the scene, has given a statement and assisted the investigation.

"There is always a chance that there are people who have not come forward because they may have some concerns.

“As we have previously said, there are measures that can be put in place to support any such person giving evidence."

The boy police would like to speak to is described as white, aged 13 to 14 years old with short fair hair. He was wearing a white T-shirt and grey trousers and was riding

a silver BMX bike.

But crucial to the case is tracing a woman who was driving a red car, with a child seat in the rear, on Fir Tree Drive North at approximately 7.30pm on August 22

Police say this woman nearly knocked down a cyclist and could have information which could prove vital to the investigation.

vickyanderson