This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/merseyside/7687407.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Rhys witness 'scared to say no' Rhys witness 'scared to say no'
(about 3 hours later)
A 17-year-old who hid the gun allegedly used to kill Rhys Jones was "too scared to say no" to the teenager accused of his murder, a jury heard.A 17-year-old who hid the gun allegedly used to kill Rhys Jones was "too scared to say no" to the teenager accused of his murder, a jury heard.
Liverpool Crown Court has heard how the youth took the pistol from Sean Mercer 20 minutes after Rhys, 11, was shot in Croxteth Park, Liverpool, last August.Liverpool Crown Court has heard how the youth took the pistol from Sean Mercer 20 minutes after Rhys, 11, was shot in Croxteth Park, Liverpool, last August.
In police interviews, he said he first put it in a kennel, before it was moved into his loft by Boy K, a co-defendant.In police interviews, he said he first put it in a kennel, before it was moved into his loft by Boy K, a co-defendant.
Mr Mercer, of Good Shepherd Close, Croxteth, has denied murder.Mr Mercer, of Good Shepherd Close, Croxteth, has denied murder.
The court previously heard how the defendant rang the witness and asked him to come around to Boy M's house in a taxi to pick him up.The court previously heard how the defendant rang the witness and asked him to come around to Boy M's house in a taxi to pick him up.
On Thursday, more police interviews with the teenager, who has been given immunity from prosecution and cannot be identified, were played to the jury.On Thursday, more police interviews with the teenager, who has been given immunity from prosecution and cannot be identified, were played to the jury.
In one tape the the interviewing officer asked the witness why he thought he had been asked to look after the gun.In one tape the the interviewing officer asked the witness why he thought he had been asked to look after the gun.
I think they thought 'We'll use him and the police won't have a clue where it is Prosecution witness Rhys weapon 'hidden in loft'I think they thought 'We'll use him and the police won't have a clue where it is Prosecution witness Rhys weapon 'hidden in loft'
He said: "I thought they used me as a safe house or something because I've never been in trouble with the police and I don't go out.He said: "I thought they used me as a safe house or something because I've never been in trouble with the police and I don't go out.
"I think they thought 'We'll use him and the police won't have a clue where it is'.""I think they thought 'We'll use him and the police won't have a clue where it is'."
The officer then asked him if he felt bullied by Mr Mercer.The officer then asked him if he felt bullied by Mr Mercer.
He replied: "Yeah, really, but I was just scared to say no because you think to yourself 'Well, he might have done that to a little kid so what could he do to me?'He replied: "Yeah, really, but I was just scared to say no because you think to yourself 'Well, he might have done that to a little kid so what could he do to me?'
"He's not going to think twice like.""He's not going to think twice like."
In cross-examination, Richard Pratt QC, defending Mr Mercer, told the witness: "It is our case that you did not see Sean Mercer at all on 22 August last year and he didn't give you a package which turned out to be a gun.In cross-examination, Richard Pratt QC, defending Mr Mercer, told the witness: "It is our case that you did not see Sean Mercer at all on 22 August last year and he didn't give you a package which turned out to be a gun.
Rhys was shot outside The Fir Tree pub in CroxtethRhys was shot outside The Fir Tree pub in Croxteth
"Why, when you got the phone call on that night, didn't you say: 'Get your own taxi, you've got the money'?""Why, when you got the phone call on that night, didn't you say: 'Get your own taxi, you've got the money'?"
The boy replied: "I just wasn't really thinking then."The boy replied: "I just wasn't really thinking then."
Mr Pratt showed the teenager a copy of a police statement taken after the gun was found and he was a murder suspect.Mr Pratt showed the teenager a copy of a police statement taken after the gun was found and he was a murder suspect.
He said: "Do you remember saying to police in that interview that you were not 100% sure it was Sean Mercer who gave you the gun at the home of Boy M?"He said: "Do you remember saying to police in that interview that you were not 100% sure it was Sean Mercer who gave you the gun at the home of Boy M?"
The boy replied "yes", adding that he had lied to police because he was scared at the time.The boy replied "yes", adding that he had lied to police because he was scared at the time.
Gang imagesGang images
The witness agreed, when it was put to him by Mr Pratt, that he had no interest in the gang warfare between Norris Green and Croxteth.The witness agreed, when it was put to him by Mr Pratt, that he had no interest in the gang warfare between Norris Green and Croxteth.
The barrister then produced print-outs of images from his computer hard drive with gang references.The barrister then produced print-outs of images from his computer hard drive with gang references.
The boy said he had never seen the first two images and could not remember if he had created them.The boy said he had never seen the first two images and could not remember if he had created them.
Another image was then produced which read: "Do something good for the community, shoot a Nogga Dog."Another image was then produced which read: "Do something good for the community, shoot a Nogga Dog."
Mr Pratt said: "Why would somebody who has no interest in the Croxteth Crew or the Norris Green gang save this image on to their computer?"Mr Pratt said: "Why would somebody who has no interest in the Croxteth Crew or the Norris Green gang save this image on to their computer?"
The witness said: "I don't know."The witness said: "I don't know."
James Yates, 20, of Dodman Road; Nathan Quinn, 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.James Yates, 20, of Dodman Road; Nathan Quinn, 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. The trial was adjourned until Friday.All six deny the charges. The trial was adjourned until Friday.
Advertisement
Eighteen-year-old Sean Mercer denies killing Rhys Jones