THE teenager allegedly summon- ed to pick up the Rhys Jones murder weapon was yesterday branded a “quartermaster who stores guns for people”.
Liverpool Crown Court heard 17-year-old Boy C was originally questioned by police over whether he was the gunman who killed Rhys or whether he had supplied the gun.
Boy C is now the prosecution’s star witness and claims Sean Mercer – the teenager accused of Rhys’ murder – rang him and forced him to hide the gun allegedly used.
Barristers acting on behalf of the seven defendants yesterday accused the witness of “being keen on gang culture”.
The jury heard the contents of a number of chat logs, taken from online messaging, apparently made by Boy C’s brother talking over the internet to another person.
One read: “[Boy C]’s got Yatesy’s handgun, don’t tell him I told you.”
Another, the court heard, read: “[Boy C] had three guns in ours off Croxteth lads and don’t tell any cheese [lies].”
Paul Lewis, defending Boy K, who is accused of assisting an offender and possessing illegal firearms, asked Boy C in cross-examination: “Do you mind guns for people?
“Are you a quartermaster? Do you store guns for people and put pictures [of those guns] on your computer?
“Throughout your account, you’ve twisted and turned to suit your own needs, haven’t you?”
Mr Lewis showed the court images taken from Boy C’s computer depicting two guns – a revolver and a pistol.
He said the picture was put on the computer in January last year and suggested those guns were the same ones the two police found when they raided Boy C’s home on September 30 last year, more than a month after Rhys was shot.
The prosecution alleges the revolver found by police – a .455 Smith & Wesson – was the gun used to murder the schoolboy.
But Mr Lewis queried why no fingerprints or DNA relating to Boy K were found, despite Boy C claiming Boy K came to his house and moved the murder weapon up into his loft.
Mr Lewis said: “You’ve lied again, haven’t you? Again you’re lying, blaming Boy K when caught out with a lie.”
Boy C denied this.
Richard Pratt, QC, defending Mercer, quizzed Boy C about a conversation he had over the internet, apparently boasting he had a picture of “his” gun, said to be a Beretta.
Asked why he stated this, the teenager replied it was to “act big” after his brother was assaulted in “Stand Farm”, the old name for the Croxteth Park estate.
Mr Pratt added Boy C’s statement that his client was involved in gang activity was based on gossip, rather than any genuine proof.
The case continues.
