Rhys killer family face eviction

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The mother of Rhys Jones's killer could be evicted from her home after admitting lying to police.

Janette Mercer, whose son Sean shot 11-year-old Rhys, has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.

Mercer, 49, of Croxteth, lied about her son's mountain bike after he killed the schoolboy.

Berrybridge Housing, which manages her home in Good Shepherd Close, has begun possession proceedings and is seeking an eviction order.

Mercer was bailed at a hearing Liverpool Crown Court on Monday until sentencing on 1 April.

Lied in statement

Riverside Housing has organised a file of reasons to evict Mercer from the semi-detached home in which Sean lived with his family until he was sentenced to life imprisonment in December last year.

Mercer was found guilty of murder after a nine-week trialOn 25 February officials from the housing association will go to Liverpool County Court to try to win an eviction order.

A spokesman for Berrybridge Housing, an arm of Riverside Housing, said: "We can confirm possession proceedings have begun.

"A court hearing will decide whether our application for possession against the female tenant of the house is successful."

Sean Mercer shot Rhys in the car park of the Fir Tree pub, Croxteth, Liverpool before fleeing on his bike.

Mrs Mercer admitted being present in a police interview with her son when he claimed he did not own a bike which matched the description of the one officers were looking for.

She was later involved in the negotiations with an insurance company to replace her son's bike, but did not tell police.

She also admitted lying to police in a statement she made in September 2007 when she claimed her son only owned one bike and that she had no idea how long he owned it for.

During the nine-week murder trial the bike used by Sean Mercer, and CCTV footage of it, became key to the prosecution case.