Rhys Jones _200
Strand Gang associates Wayne Brady, Kevin Davies and another teenager, who cannot be identified, had been into the area to borrow a bicycle from a friend living in nearby Iona Close.
They were riding in the pub car park when Mercer was called to the scene armed with a Smith and Wesson .455 revolver.
Witnesses described seeing a pale, hooded man, dressed in black “standing astride his bicycle with both hands stretched out in front of him as if aiming his gun across the car park”.
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CCTV footage also captured a hooded figure on a bike at the corner of the pub car park recoiling three times – allegedly as he fired the three bullets.
Mr Flewitt told how Mercer immediately tried to cover his tracks in the wake of the fatal shooting, and was helped by six fellow gang members.
James Yates, 20, of Dodman Road, Croxteth; Gary Kays, 25, of Mallard Close, Croxteth Park; and Melvin Coy, 25, of Abbeyfield Drive, Croxteth; as well as two 17-year-olds, who can only be identified as Boy Q and Boy K, have pleaded not guilty to assisting an offender.
Yates is also charged with possessing a prohibited firearm, a Smith and Wesson .455 revolver.
A 16-year-old, named as Boy M, is charged with assisting an offender and possessing a firearm and ammunition. They all deny the charges.
Mr Flewitt said: “Immediately after he killed Rhys Jones, Sean Mercer set about distancing himself from the tragic events at the Fir Tree public house.
“He moved quickly to dispose himself of his clothing, his pedal cycle and the gun that he had used to such devastating effect.”
Such was the “strength of loyalty” among fellow gang members that they worked with “speed and enthusiasm” to dis- pose of evidence and try to help Mercer avoid capture, he added.
The case continues.
