Mother tells of cradling dying Rhys

In a witness statement read out at the trial of the teenager accused of Rhys's murder, Melanie Jones described being in a state of "total shock" after her son was shot and added: "I didn't take anything in."

Mrs Jones said she was told of the shooting by the coach of her son's football team.

They then drove to the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth, Liverpool, where Rhys was being treated by paramedics.

She said: "As I arrived at the Fir Tree I saw a number of people, including police and paramedics attending to my son, Rhys. I cradled him while the paramedics dealt with him. I then went with my son to Alder Hey Hospital where he was pronounced dead."

Rhys was killed on August 22 last year as he crossed the front car park of the pub on his way home from football training.

Sean Mercer, 18, of Good Shepherd Close, Croxteth, denies murder.

The prosecution claim Mercer blasted three shots across the car park after targeting members of a rival gang who had strayed onto his turf. The second bullet, the jury has been told, struck Rhys in the neck and the youngster died a short time later.

Mrs Jones, 43, added: "My son Rhys was a happy, outgoing child whose favourite sport was football. Rhys was a very good footballer. Football was his life and he had a very good circle of friends who he played football with. He had a very happy and stable family upbringing. We are a very close family."

Alongside Mercer in the dock are James Yates, 20, of Dodman Road, Croxteth, Gary Kays, 25, of Mallard Close, and Melvin Coy, 24, of Abbeyfield Drive, both West Derby, Liverpool, who are accused of assisting an offender with two boys aged 16 and 17, who cannot be identified. A second 17-year-old boy has been charged with assisting an offender and possessing a firearm and ammunition. All deny the charges.