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| Rhys accused not giving evidence | Rhys accused not giving evidence |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The alleged killer of schoolboy Rhys Jones has refused to give evidence, a court has heard. | The alleged killer of schoolboy Rhys Jones has refused to give evidence, a court has heard. |
| Sean Mercer, 18, is accused of shooting the 11-year-old dead as he walked home from football practice in Croxteth, Liverpool, on 22 August 2007. | |
| At Liverpool Crown Court on Monday Mr Mercer, of Good Shepherd Close, declined to enter the witness box. | At Liverpool Crown Court on Monday Mr Mercer, of Good Shepherd Close, declined to enter the witness box. |
| Richard Pratt QC, defending Mr Mercer, said: "Mr Mercer exercises the right not to call any evidence." | Richard Pratt QC, defending Mr Mercer, said: "Mr Mercer exercises the right not to call any evidence." |
| But the trial judge, Justice Irwin, said in court: "I am sure you will have advised him fully about the implications of that [not giving evidence] and that inferences may be drawn from that." | But the trial judge, Justice Irwin, said in court: "I am sure you will have advised him fully about the implications of that [not giving evidence] and that inferences may be drawn from that." |
| Mr Mercer's decision means the prosecution case is now complete. | Mr Mercer's decision means the prosecution case is now complete. |
| The prosecution alleges Mr Mercer shot Rhys dead in the car park of the Firtree pub, before having the murder weapon hidden and his clothes disposed of by his co-defendants. | The prosecution alleges Mr Mercer shot Rhys dead in the car park of the Firtree pub, before having the murder weapon hidden and his clothes disposed of by his co-defendants. |
| The other defendants; 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, along with Boy M, 16, who cannot be named, deny assisting an offender. | The other defendants; 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, along with Boy M, 16, who cannot be named, deny assisting an offender. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |