Rhys' Killer Begins Life Sentence

5:14am UK, Wednesday December 17, 2008
Teenage gunman Sean Mercer has begun his life prison sentence for shooting dead 11-year-old Rhys Jones.

Mercer and his fellow gang members were branded "stupid" and immature by the judge sentencing them at Liverpool Crown Court.

Mr Justice Irwin told Mercer: "This offence arose from the stupid, brutal gang conflict which has struck this part of Liverpool.

"You were caught up in that from a young age, but it is clear you glorified in it.

"It is wrong to let anyone glorify or romanticise this kind of gang conflict. You are not soldiers.

"You have no discipline, no training, no honour. You do not command respect.

He described Rhys's death as "a tragedy for him, a tragedy for his family and a waste of a young life".

The boys' parents were praised for the dignity they showed throughout the process.

"The way they have behaved has been a standing reproach to those in the dock, and particularly to you Mercer, who killed their son," he said.

"But it is clear that their composure conceals searing emotions, which we can guess at, but which those of us who have not lost a child can hardly fully understand.

"The impact upon them and upon Rhys's brother is enormous."

Stephen and Melanie Jones said justice had been done.

They clasped hands and fought back tears as Mercer was jailed for a minimum of 22 years.

Mercer, a Croxteth Crew member, blasted three shots across the Fir Tree pub car park with murderous intent on August 22 last year.

He targeted rival Strand Gang members who arrived on his turf - but one of the shots hit innocent Rhys, who was walking home from football training.

At last a judge with some sense He could serve more than 22 years.

At last justice for that little innocent child and his parents can rest in peace.

I heard on the news this morning a policeman saying that the public had helped alot in this case so I hope this teaches the gangs a lesson for the future!

The public are not as scared of them as they think!

Should of been his neck that had been broken.

Oh what a shame! NOT!

9:16pm UK, Monday January 05, 2009

The teenager who shot dead schoolboy Rhys Jones has been left with a broken nose and other facial injuries after being attacked in jail.


Sean Mercer is serving life for killing 11-year-old Rhys Jones




Sean Mercer, 18, was assaulted at HMP Moorland in Doncaster, South Yorkshire - but the incident was stopped by the "timely intervention" of staff, a Prison Service spokeswoman said.

The gang member needed hospital treatment after the fight in a communal part of the jail.

A Prison Service spokeswoman said: "We can confirm an incident took place at HMP Moorland at 2.30pm on Saturday, December 27, in which two prisoners assaulted each other."



Rhys was shot in the head


The fight was over within two minutes when prison staff broke it up.

Mercer, from Croxteth in Liverpool, was sentenced to life behind bars last month after being found guilty of killing 11-year-old Rhys.

He was told he will serve at least 22 years for blasting three shots across the car park of the busy Fir Tree pub on a summer night last year.

Mercer had apparently being targeting members of the rival Strand Gang - but one of the bullets hit Rhys, who was on his way home from football training.


Police said Mercer had shown "no remorse whatsoever".

Rhys died in his mother's arms.

I know I shouldn't feel like this but

justagrannynow wrote:I know I shouldn't feel like this but

i feel the same as you!

pm wrote:

justagrannynow wrote:I know I shouldn't feel like this but

i feel the same as you!

I agree with you both.

I am not disagreeing with all you say but I believe that he did have a very disturbed and very poor parental background.
If he belonged to a very secure and loving and careful and watchful family, perhaps he might have trod a very different path ??

snowflake wrote:I am not disagreeing with all you say but I believe that he did have a very disturbed and very poor parental background.
If he belonged to a very secure and loving and careful and watchful family, perhaps he might have trod a very different path ??

Yes thats true but everyone who doesnt have mental problems knows right from wrong and if he was into gangs then he picked his friends himself....

Gangs bully and now he's been bullied....serves him right!

Ambersuz wrote:

snowflake wrote:I am not disagreeing with all you say but I believe that he did have a very disturbed and very poor parental background.
If he belonged to a very secure and loving and careful and watchful family, perhaps he might have trod a very different path ??

Yes thats true but everyone who doesnt have mental problems knows right from wrong and if he was into gangs then he picked his friends himself....

Gangs bully and now he's been bullied....serves him right!

not sure about this.
a good parent does try to be sure who who their child is befriending and I do believe this boy had a gangster for a father and a hooker for a morher..

snowflake wrote:I am not disagreeing with all you say but I believe that he did have a very disturbed and very poor parental background.
If he belonged to a very secure and loving and careful and watchful family, perhaps he might have trod a very different path ??

Snow, in my opinion and maybe i am wrong, these people, boys or girls are cowards because they act in group only.
they want to be part of the group and for that they do everything right or wrong
When they are alone they are cowards!
this boy didn´t show one single remorse and he murder another person!
But i agree with you, probably himself doen´t know what is love!

pm wrote:

snowflake wrote:I am not disagreeing with all you say but I believe that he did have a very disturbed and very poor parental background.
If he belonged to a very secure and loving and careful and watchful family, perhaps he might have trod a very different path ??

Snow, in my opinion and maybe i am wrong, these people, boys or girls are cowards because they act in group only.
they want to be part of the group and for that they do everything right or wrong
When they are alone they are cowards!
this boy didn´t show one single remorse and he murder another person!
But i agree with you, probably himself doen´t know what is love!

Yep he is a bully and a coward but often these kids see the gang as their only family.
I dont make excuses for him, just try to figure out why some kids go wrong.

I don't have any sympathy for him at all. I lived around people like him and they have no respect for anyone. Rhys was an innocent child who wasn't involved in crime and lost his life. that animal gets a few years in prison and walks free to live the rest of his life. he should be happy it's only a broken nose. As for kids living in troubled families and areas not every child that comes from a broken home goes out and committs crime. He deliberately aimed the gun at Rhys and afterwards bragged about it. pure scum in my eyes

Antoinette wrote:I don't have any sympathy for him at all. I lived around people like him and they have no respect for anyone. Rhys was an innocent child who wasn't involved in crime and lost his life. that animal gets a few years in prison and walks free to live the rest of his life. he should be happy it's only a broken nose. As for kids living in troubled families and areas not every child that comes from a broken home goes out and committs crime. He deliberately aimed the gun at Rhys and afterwards bragged about it. pure scum in my eyes

I do not have any sympathy for him. I did not suggest that being from a troubled home was an excuse .
I only wonder why such a young person becomes so bad.

snowflake wrote:

Antoinette wrote:I don't have any sympathy for him at all. I lived around people like him and they have no respect for anyone. Rhys was an innocent child who wasn't involved in crime and lost his life. that animal gets a few years in prison and walks free to live the rest of his life. he should be happy it's only a broken nose. As for kids living in troubled families and areas not every child that comes from a broken home goes out and committs crime. He deliberately aimed the gun at Rhys and afterwards bragged about it. pure scum in my eyes

I do not have any sympathy for him. I did not suggest that being from a troubled home was an excuse .
I only wonder why such a young person becomes so bad.

Maybe some people (very few I'd say) are born bad, but most I think comes from the home. This boy was obviously raised without any real 'time' being given to him. Lots of parents think they just throw money/toys/games etc at a kid to make them happy. But what a child wants is his parents' time, love, and teachings.

Something must have gone wrong in his upbringing.
Kids are not born bad. Think he had very poor examples of parents.
Doesn't excuse him but perhaps explains how he developed into such a bad lad.

snowflake wrote:Something must have gone wrong in his upbringing.
Kids are not born bad. Think he had very poor examples of parents.
Doesn't excuse him but perhaps explains how he developed into such a bad lad.

I tend to agree with you Snowflake.

eddie wrote:

snowflake wrote:Something must have gone wrong in his upbringing.
Kids are not born bad. Think he had very poor examples of parents.
Doesn't excuse him but perhaps explains how he developed into such a bad lad.

I tend to agree with you Snowflake.

only for discussion: how can we explain that there are some bad people that were from good families, well educated, with love and friends and became bad? the others brothers and sisters are good but one is realy bad!

pm wrote:

eddie wrote:

snowflake wrote:Something must have gone wrong in his upbringing.
Kids are not born bad. Think he had very poor examples of parents.
Doesn't excuse him but perhaps explains how he developed into such a bad lad.

I tend to agree with you Snowflake.

only for discussion: how can we explain that there are some bad people that were from good families, well educated, with love and friends and became bad? the others brothers and sisters are good but one is realy bad!

That's why I said that some people (though not many) are just born bad - no explanation, just some kind of chemical inbalance....like an apple that turns rotton for no reason.

Antoinette wrote:I don't have any sympathy for him at all. I lived around people like him and they have no respect for anyone. Rhys was an innocent child who wasn't involved in crime and lost his life. that animal gets a few years in prison and walks free to live the rest of his life. he should be happy it's only a broken nose. As for kids living in troubled families and areas not every child that comes from a broken home goes out and committs crime. He deliberately aimed the gun at Rhys and afterwards bragged about it. pure scum in my eyes

Could not of put it better myself.

eddie wrote:

pm wrote:

eddie wrote:

snowflake wrote:Something must have gone wrong in his upbringing.
Kids are not born bad. Think he had very poor examples of parents.
Doesn't excuse him but perhaps explains how he developed into such a bad lad.

I tend to agree with you Snowflake.

only for discussion: how can we explain that there are some bad people that were from good families, well educated, with love and friends and became bad? the others brothers and sisters are good but one is realy bad!

That's why I said that some people (though not many) are just born bad - no explanation, just some kind of chemical inbalance....like an apple that turns rotton for no reason.

i agree with you sister!

there are people that just born with the trend to be bad and with bad companies....

maybe one day someone find in the DNA the reason for that

7:00pm UK, Wednesday April 01, 2009
The mother of the thug who armed Rhys Jones's murderer described the killer as "brave" with a "lot of bottle", a court heard.


Marie and Frank Yates, the parents of jailed gang thug James Yates



Marie Yates, 51, admitted perverting the course of justice by burning a mobile phone Sim card belonging to her gang member son, James Yates, 21.

James, who gave killer Sean Mercer, 18, the 1915 Smith and Wesson used to shoot Rhys, 11, was key in trying to cover up the killing and enlisted the help of parents Marie and Frank, 49.

Gasps were heard at Liverpool Crown Court as bug evidence from the Yates's home was relayed.

Discussing the murderer's recklessness of shooting across the car park of a crowded pub, the mother-of-three said of Mercer: "Oh my good God, brave isn't it?"

She added: "Whoever has done it has a lot of bottle."


Janette Mercer


Alongside her in the dock were her husband and Mercer's mother, Janette Mercer, 49.

After denying their guilt for months, the Yates's, of Dodman Road, Croxteth, admitted perverting the course of justice.

They both admitted burning the Sim card and Frank Yates - who has seven previous convictions - admitted suggesting a false alibi to Mercer.

He was jailed for four and a half years and his wife was jailed for 18 months. Janette Mercer got three years for trying to derail the investigation by lying about her killer son's bicycles.

Rhys was killed on August 22, 2007 when he was hit in the neck by a bullet as he walked home from football training across the Fir Tree pub car park and bled to death in his mother Melanie's arms.

Tonight, she and her husband Stephen said they had finally received "complete justice".

Mr Jones, a 45-year-old supermarket manager, stood by his wife's side and said: "In our eyes Mrs Mercer and Mr and Mrs Yates have always been as guilty as their sons.

"As adults they should have known right from wrong.

"To intentionally cover up Rhys's murder and to protect a murderer and his accomplices and prolong our agony is unforgivable.

"As parents themselves they should have understood our pain but instead they chose to ignore it.

"For us, no prison sentence for these people would be long enough."

The Recorder of Liverpool, Judge Henry Globe QC, told the defendants: "Each of you in your actions was misleading to police and frustrated the investigation into the murder.

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

A teenager was later fined £350 by Judge Globe for refusing to give evidence in Sean Mercer's trial.

The youth, who cannot be identified, gave crucial statements to police about the movements of Mercer's bicycle on the night of the murder.

But when he called before the jury he refused to give evidence against the killer and said he was in fear of reprisals if he did.