Articles | 'Accused at home when Rhys shot'

Rhys suspect won't give evidence

Published: Monday, 17 November 2008, 12:27PM

Accused gunman Sean Mercer has declined to offer any evidence in the trial of murdered 11-year-old schoolboy Rhys Jones.

Richard Pratt QC said Mercer, 18, had taken the decision not to go before the jury and be cross-examined after the prosecution case closed on Monday afternoon after six weeks.

He told Liverpool Crown Court: "Sean Mercer exercises his right not to call any evidence."

The trial judge, Mr Justice Irwin, replied: "I am sure you will have advised him fully about the implications of that and that inferences may be drawn from that."

Earlier, the court heard Mercer was watching TV when football-mad Rhys was killed while crossing the car park of the Fir Tree public house in Croxteth, Liverpool, on August 22 last year.

A defendant in the trial said he was at home with Mercer watching a documentary about the rapper 50 Cent. The jury was read transcripts of police interviews with Boy K, who cannot be named and is accused of assisting an offender.

The prosecution says Mercer, 18, was a member of the Croxteth Crew gang and fired three shots at alleged members of rival group, the Strand Gang. The jury has been told the second bullet hit Rhys as he made his way home from football practice.

Mercer, of Good Shepherd Close, Croxteth, Liverpool, denies murder.

James Yates, 20, of Dodman Road and Nathan Quinn, 18, of Wickett Close, both Croxteth; Gary Kays, 25, of Mallard Close and Melvin Coy, 24, of Abbeyfield Drive, both West Derby, Liverpool, are accused of assisting an offender along with Boy M, 16, and Boy K, 17, who cannot be named.

All six deny the charges.