ONE of the youths who was the alleged target of the shots which killed Rhys Jones yesterday told Liverpool Crown Court he had been “friendly” with the murder accused, Sean Mercer.

It is claimed the bullets were meant for Strand Gang members Kevin Davies, 19, a boy who cannot be named and Wayne Brady, 20, who was talking to his ex- girlfriend during the shooting.

There was allegedly “some more personal animosity” between Mercer and Brady that went beyond gang rivalry.

Dressed in a blue striped jumper, Brady said he and Mercer, who attended the same school, had been friendly.

He said: “We had a little argument years back,” but could not remember what it was about.

“But we were friendly and he used to come over to the car,” said Brady.

Mr Brady told how he had been speaking to his ex- girlfriend, Vicki Smart, when he heard the blasts.

The trio had been in the Croxteth Park area on August 22 to borrow a bike from Brady’s friend, Craig Cowan, who lived in Iona Close.

Brady, Davies and Boy A had cycled over from Norris Green on two bikes – speaking to Ms Smart for about 10 minutes close to the Fir Tree pub.

After picking up the mountain bike, they returned to the pub, where Mr Brady had again seen Ms Smart in a car.

He told how they had gone to talk privately, so he could “apologise for some things”, while Mr Davies and Boy A waited in the car park.

Giving evidence for the prosecution, he said: “When I was talking to Vicki, I heard three gunshots. I couldn’t tell where they were coming from, they were coming from the front of the pub.

“My friends dropped their heads and pedalled as fast they could away from the pub towards the shops.”