Police: One woman holds keys to Rhys Jones murder

Oct 26 2007

THREE thousand letters have been sent in a direct plea to the woman who could crack the Rhys Jones murder investigation.

Police hope one of them will drop on the doormat of the driver who nearly knocked over the killer as he made his escape.

They promise to protect the key witness at all costs if she tells them what, and who, she saw that night.

It is now more than two months since 11-year-old Rhys was shot while walking home from football practice.

As the young gunman fled on a bike from the scene at the Fir Tree Pub at 7.30pm on August 22 he rode off the kerb, right in front a red Fiesta-type car driven by a woman, causing her to brake and swerve suddenly.

She had an empty child seat in the back of the car.

Despite numerous appeals for witnesses detectives have still yet to trace the woman.

Today the inquiry team were posting more than 3,000 letters through doors in Croxteth Park to try to find her.

A police source said: “Croxteth Park is not a cut through or a main route. If you go there, it is for a reason so it is likely she lives there, knows someone there or had some business in the area so we hope these letters will encourage her or someone who knows her to come forward.

“It is important we speak to her as soon as possible. This woman could hold information that is vital to the inquiry.

“We hope this is just a case of her not seeing the appeals. But if she is worried about coming forward, we can assure her she will be fully protected if she speaks to us. There are numerous ways to keep her safe.”

Anyone with information should contact the incident room on 0151 777 8722 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

After Rhys’s murder, the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo newspapers launched Liverpool Unites, a campaign for the city to show it is against gun crime.

Hundreds of thousands of you have picked up purple ribbons and wristbands to show support.

Last week we set a £100,000 fundraising target to go towards the proposed Rhys Jones community centre for the Croxteth Park estate. You can donate by putting cash in the Liverpool Unites boxes on the counters of 96 Sayers across Merseyside. We’ve suggested a donation of 50p for a purple ribbon but many of you have been far more generous. Boxes of purple wristbands will go on sale again soon.

Send a cheque, payable to Liverpool Unites, to Andy Cook, Marketing Department, Liverpool Daily Post and Echo, PO Box 48, Old Hall Street, Liverpool L69 3EB

Donations to the Rhys Jones Memorial Fund can also be given directly over the internet through www.lcvs.org.uk or over the phone by calling 0151 243 1076.