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Gangster aged 16 who shot Rhys dead
Paul Cheston, Courts Correspondent16 Dec 2008
THE teenage gang leader who gunned down innocent schoolboy Rhys Jones was convicted of murder today and jailed for a minimum of 22 years.
Sean Mercer was just 16 when he fired the fatal shot but was already a hardened criminal steeped in the drug-dealing violence of Liverpool. Rhys was 11 and obsessed with football. He died in his mother's arms.
Mercer, now 18, stood trial after police finally cracked the wall of silence in the city that had protected him. Rhys's parents Stephen and Melanie Jones were close to tears as six other thugs were convicted of helping Mercer cover up after the shooting.
They are James Yates, 20, Nathan Quinn, 18, Melvin Coy, 24, Gary Kays, 25, Dean Kelly, 17, and a 16-year-old youth known as M, who cannot be named because of his age.
They were due to be sentenced later today at Liverpool crown court by Mr Justice Irwin.
Rhys's father welcomed the conviction of Mercer, saying: "Finally justice has been done for Rhys."
The murder in August last year shocked a nation already weary of inner-city gun crime. Rhys had been walking home from under-12 football practice when he was hit by the second of three shots fired across the car park of the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth.
Mercer, a leader of the Crocky of Croxteth Crew, was aiming at members of the rival Nogga Dogz gang from Norris Green. Hooded and standing astride his silver Hardrock bike, he took aim and fired again at his target even when Rhys lay dying, a bullet in his neck.
Mercer cycled off and ordered his gang to hide the weapon, a First World War .455 Smith & Wesson, and drive him to a disused factory in Kirby where he washed down in petrol to destroy evidence.
Such was the horrified reaction in Liverpool that dozens anonymously named Mercer as the killer and his name was posted on the internet, YouTube and in graffiti all over the city. But nobody was prepared to stand up with real evidence.
Mercer enjoyed a cloak of protection - partly because of fears of gangland reprisal and partly because of Merseysiders' reluctance to be branded a "grass".
The breakthrough came when a tip-off led to the murder weapon being found and a key witness known as X was offered immunity from prosecution in return for giving evidence against Mercer and the gang.
In a conversation bugged by police, Yates talked about the shooting of Rhys and who supplied the gun. He said: "I bought that gun three years ago. End of story. What? What can they prove? Nothing."
The murder of Rhys was the culmination of three years of violence between the two gangs in a turf war over drug dealing. More than 70 incidents, including 17 when shots were fired, were reported to the police.
The war started with the shooting of a 17-year-old "Crocky" and within hours shots were fired at homes in Norris Green. One resident told the Liverpool Echo: "It was like waking up in the middle of the Alamo."
Liam "Snigger" Smith, leader of the Nogga Dogz, was then shot as he left prison and Rhys was killed hours before the first anniversary of this attack.
Reader views (21)
Stop expecting the government to bring up your kids. Parental responsibility pure and simple. The UK is only one of a few countries in the EU where it seems the art of parenting has been lost. As with many things it seems easier for you guys to blame anything and anyone other then yourselves.
Maybe less X-Factor and PS3 games and more social and community interaction? At what point do kids stop being innocent babies and become this 'gang scum'? I guess shortly after you lose interest in them.
Sean Mercer was just a kid neglected to the point he became a murderer.
- Dumbass, Olvera, Spain, 13/10/2009 22:49
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Its all very well saying to be hard on these teenagers but this is after the event we need to sort this out before kids like rhys get killed. for whatever reason these kids see their identity through the gangs and negative attention. no dads at home
excluded from school, the others were not teenagers . The police often turn a blind eye to those they know are involved until something like this happens too. i know of no go estates where people report teenagers for handling stolen goods for it to go ignored.
- Sian, Richmond, 13/10/2009 21:49
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We need to really get tougher with these scum.
It should be a mandatory 10 year sentence for anyone have a gun or knife in public.
Also we need to attack the families of these scum too.
If they know their son has a gun or knife and they fail to inform the police then they are as guilty as their son - 10 years.
Believe me it will only take a few convictions to get massive results.
Finally all chances of early release taken away - life means life and 10 years means 10 years.
We can thank New Labour and Blair for allowing our country to get like this. The damn human rights act.
- Russ, Kent, UK, 13/10/2009 21:49
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Can any one give me a good reason why this evil thug and all the others like him should be allowed to go on living?
- Pat, Essex, 13/10/2009 21:49
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When will these young adults realise that they don’t live in The Bronx or Philadelphia’s crime ridden back streets, nowhere in the UK really compares. Some kids in the US are born into gang life; these thick teens have created their gangs to emulate America. This makes this current situation of gun and knife crime even more depressing as there is no real reason for it. There’s nothing big about going around in a gang and bulling and attacking innocent people, they don’t do it on there own do they! Zero tolerance is the only way for forward. I hope they send Mercer to real prison rather than a young offenders youth club; think you’re the real deal, deal with real prison you waste of space.
- Paul, London, 13/10/2009 21:49
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What needs to be done is look at this kids history (and many others) it is almost 100 per cent certain that like all kids who commit serious crimes like this one.
That they have been in front of police and the ss dozens and dozens occasions but have never ever been prosecuted or dealt with or punished........all that happens to theses types is they are treated as "disadvantaged" and in and by "non-judgemental" types so that all that happens is that they are excused and understandably continue their criminal activities that get worse, worse and worse.
Until this type of dreadful "do notthing" approach altered or repaired there will be no reduction in youth crime or iprove,emt in their behaviour.
It is absolutly obvious that no changes will be made...so watch out!
- Ed, london, 13/10/2009 21:49
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Should have been locked up and had the key thrown away.
- Chrissie, London, 13/10/2009 21:49
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This scum did not get a long enough sentence, he should have been sent to Broadmoor with no hope of release, he took a life so he gives his away = justice!
- Gurpreet Khaira, Gravesend, UK, 13/10/2009 21:49
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I second what Paul has already said. This is a tragic incident caused by disillusioned kids bent on REAL American gang culture.
The judge couldn't have put it better when describing these cowards.
- Jon, London, UK, 13/10/2009 21:49
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Pathetic little boy who is part of a pathetic little boy's gang. I dont care which "side of the road" you live, you are NOT in a playground anymore, you are NOT 5 years old anymore. Grow up, do something with your lives. Its time you put something into life instead of taking lives. GROW UP before another family suffers.
- Fq, London, UK, 13/10/2009 21:49
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Please don't name gangs or give the tag names of these pathetic individuals. It only boosts the egos and 'dreams' of fame of other young losers.
- Maisy, London, 13/10/2009 21:49
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I agree with these comments. Rhys may God rest his soul.
- Cath, London, 13/10/2009 21:49
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As a Brit who lives in a beautiful neighborhood here in California, we have gang member scum everywhere. 2 of them shot each other in a local Toys R Us on the biggest sale day of the year. There are areas we cannot go through day or night because of them. Do not allow this to happen over there. Happy to see this kid get locked up for 22 years.
- Janis Bloomfield, palm springs,california, 13/10/2009 21:49
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what annoys me more than anything is these pipsqueeks think they're tough but can only 'do' things when they're in a gang and pick on single or frail people,if they're on their own they wouldnt say boo to a goose , lets see how long he lasts in a mans world where there is none of his gang to support him ! scum is too good a word for him
- Peter Ex Londoner, Hartlepool, 13/10/2009 21:49
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God help us all if this country is breeding lowlife like these. Drugs are the downfall of this generation, gangs were never heard of in this country 10 years ago, so what went wrong. Most gang warfare centres around drug habits, and until this is rooted out we have no chance!!
- Mrs. Pamela Mckay, Dagenham, Essex, England, 13/10/2009 21:49
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I agree with the majority of views made in the comment above. However, this has nothing to do with youth's trying to be like the American's. In some cases, maybe? But for some kids in the UK, gangs are all they know. Because they have no parental guidance or any decent role models. The reality is, this is Britain and the violence and killings are happening here on our own doorstep. It does not always mean it's gang related, their are some sick individuals in this country who do commit these horrendous crimes on their own. The system needs to start making an example of EVIL people like Mercer. Yes, he should be sent to a "real prison" but even the BIG MAN prison's are far too soft for cases like Mercer's. They should have third world style prison's for scum like him. Then maybe...people will think about the consequences. If they have a conscience at all? My thought's are with Rhy's Jones' family.
- Aaron, London, 13/10/2009 21:49
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A good bit of 'coppering' and hard work by the Justice system. Rhys' parents have been so corageous and dignified. The good people of Liverpool have had enough. A systematic clamp down on 'gangster and drug' crime needs to be put in place with a dedicated Nation-wide hit squad.
It is getting out of control when kids as young as this can intimidate whole communities.
Once again, my heart goes out to Rhys, his family and loved ones.
P x
- Paul, Bromley, 13/10/2009 21:49
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The Labour maxim - "tough on crime and the causes of crime" - all they do is lie through their teeth and shut the stable door when the horse has bolted. The Liberal elite in this country have a lot to answer for and are the root cause of thousands of kids being killed and imprisoned because they fail to accept that hard crime needs hard treatment, not kid gloves!
And while we are at it, let's put a stop to all the violence shown in films, television and on these kids' computer games. If they see nothing but violence from their cradle, just how can we expect those whose parents don't give a damn, to grow up as normal, compassionate, hardworking human beings.
- Wooram, Alicante, Spain, 13/10/2009 21:49
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Is this the type of person David Cameron had in mind when he advised us to "give them a hug"
- Michael And Wendy Thompson, Bagshot Surrey, 13/10/2009 21:49
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Wooram - why are you of the assumption (an unproven one) that TV, computer games, and films are to blame? You'll be telling us next that there was no crime at all before the advent of multimedia!!
- Jock, London, 13/10/2009 21:49
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If he had done such a thing in America he would have got at least 25 to life and may then spend the rest of his life behind bars. Who cares he was 16 when he did this, he knew that it was murder and it was a crime. It is time for Britain to get tough and introduce sentences like those in the States, why should such people be allowed to return to live among the rest of us, lock them up and throw away the key, let's see how hard he is when he knows he is never going to see the outside world again.
- Graeme Brown, Austin, TX, 13/10/2009 21:49
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