01/04/2009

Rhys Killer's Mother Jailed For Three Years

The mother of the teenager convicted of murdering Liverpool schoolboy Rhys Jones, has been jailed for three years.

Janette Mercer, 49, admitted perverting the course of justice at Liverpool Crown Court in February.

She supported her gang member son, Sean Mercer, 18, by telling police he owned a back and cream mountain bicycle rather than the silver bike which was caught on CCTV being used by the gunman.

The judge told her she knew her son had told a "pack of lies".

Meanwhile, the parents of the boy who armed Rhys Jones's killer have pleaded guilty to lying to police investigating the murder.

Frank and Marie Yates, aged 49 and 51, admitted perverting the course of justice when they appeared before Liverpool Crown Court.

Marie Yates admitted burning a mobile phone chip which belonged to their 21-year-old son James.

Mr Yates also admitted giving convicted murderer Sean Mercer a false alibi. He was with his wife when the Sim was set on fire.

The couple from Dodman Road, Croxteth were both sentenced to 18 months in prison for destroying the Sim card.

Francis Yates was jailed for three years, to be served consecutively, for helping Mercer with a false albib.

To Mercer Judge Henry Globe QC said: Your son was a key suspect in the murder and you knew he had told a pack of lies.

"You backed him up and you told more lies."

Speaking to the couple and Mercer, he said: "The complexity of the police investigation was such that nobody was able to be charged with any offence for months.

“You wasted valuable police time and undermined the prospect of justice."

Eleven-year-old Rhys died in his mother’s arms after being shot in the car park at the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth Park, on 22 August 2007.

(JM/BMcC)

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The alleged killer of murdered schoolboy Rhys Jones, will not be giving evidence in his own defence, a court has heard. Sean Mercer, 18, has declined to offer any evidence, his barrister, Richard Pratt QC, told Liverpool Crown Court.
29 January 2009
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31 May 2013
Conservative MP Patrick Mercer Quits Over BBC Panorama Programme
A Conservative MP has resigned from the party follwing a BBC Panorama programme alleging he broke parliamentary rules over lobbying. Mr Patrick Merecer will step down as MP for Newark at the general election in 2015. Mr Mercer said: “Panorama are planning to broadcast a programme alleging that I have broken Parliamentary rules.
10 October 2008
Rhys Jones's Father Watches Footage Of Son Being Killed
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