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Mother of Rhys murderer appeals Rhys killer's mother loses appeal
(about 8 hours later)
The mother of Rhys Jones's killer is starting an appeal against a three year jail term for lying to detectives investigating the schoolboy's murder. The mother of Rhys Jones's killer has lost an appeal against her three-year jail sentence for lying to detectives investigating the murder.
Janette Mercer, 49, who admitted perverting the course of justice, lied about the bicycle owned by her son Sean when he shot 11-year-old Rhys. Janette Mercer, 49, misled police about the bicycle owned by her son, Sean, which he was riding when he shot the 11-year-old in Liverpool.
Her bid to challenge the sentence will be heard at the Court of Appeal. Her bid to challenge the sentence was rejected at the Court of Appeal.
Sean Mercer was ordered to serve a minimum of 22 years for murdering Rhys in Croxteth, Liverpool, in 2007. Sean Mercer was ordered to serve a minimum of 22 years for the murder of Rhys in Croxteth in August 2007.
The schoolboy was shot as he walked home from football practice on the evening of 22 August. Three judges at the Court of Appeal in London ruled that the punishment handed out to Janette Mercer was not excessive.
CCTV showed the killer on a silver bicycle but Mercer told detectives her son owned a black and cream mountain bike. She had pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice at Liverpool Crown Court, and was jailed in April this year.
The silver bike, bearing traces of Mercer's DNA, was eventually found at an industrial estate on the outskirts of Liverpool. Deception intentional
Rhys's parents, Stephen and Melanie, said Mercer's actions in prolonging their agony was "unforgiveable". Rejecting her application for permission to appeal, Mr Justice Blair said that, despite the mitigating factors in her case, "we are firmly of the view that the sentence was not manifestly excessive".
The crucial aspect of such a crime was that "the deception wholly undermines the due administration of justice and was intended to do so in this particular case", the judge added.
Mercer's son was a key suspect at the time of her statement and she knew what she was doing, the Appeal Court found.
She understood the importance of the silver bike, was aware that her son had told lies about it and then "backed him up with more lies", the judge continued.
Rhys Jones was shot as he crossed a pub car park
Rhys was shot as he walked home from football practice on the evening of 22 August.
CCTV showed the killer on a silver bicycle, but Mercer told detectives her son owned a black and cream mountain bike.
The silver bicycle, bearing traces of Mercer's DNA, was eventually found at an industrial estate on the outskirts of Liverpool.
Rhys's parents, Stephen and Melanie, said the actions of Janette Mercer in prolonging their agony were "unforgiveable".
At her trial Judge Henry Globe QC told Mercer, of Good Shepherd Close, Croxteth: "Your son was a key suspect in the murder and you knew he had told a pack of lies.At her trial Judge Henry Globe QC told Mercer, of Good Shepherd Close, Croxteth: "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.""You backed him up and you told more lies."