Boy M launches appeal in Rhys Jones murder case - 27th Feb 2009 3:29pm
Boy M launches appeal against conviction in Rhys Jones murder case
A LIVERPOOL teenager launched an appeal against his conviction.
The 16-year-old, who can only be identified as Boy M, was at home in Croxteth just after 7.30pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2007, when killer Sean Mercer knocked on his door.
From Boy M’s room, Mercer summoned fellow Croxteth Crew gang members, who began the cover-up.
After a series of police interviews, Boy M eventually admitted what had gone on after innocent 11-year-old Rhys was killed in the car park of Croxteth Park’s Fir Tree pub.
But when the case came to court, he denied assisting an offender, saying he was acting under duress.
The trial judge dismissed his defence and now Boy M’s solicitors have filed papers with the Court of Appeal, challenging Mr Justice Irwin’s ruling and the subsequent conviction.
He was given a two-year supervision order and curfew.
On Wednesday, the Attorney General referred co-defendant James Yates’ seven-year jail term to the Court of Appeal, which will decide if the punishment for the 21-year-old, of Dodman Road, Croxteth, was too soft.
THE ECHO
A LIVERPOOL teenager launched an appeal against his conviction.
The 16-year-old, who can only be identified as Boy M, was at home in Croxteth just after 7.30pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2007, when killer Sean Mercer knocked on his door.
From Boy M’s room, Mercer summoned fellow Croxteth Crew gang members, who began the cover-up.
After a series of police interviews, Boy M eventually admitted what had gone on after innocent 11-year-old Rhys was killed in the car park of Croxteth Park’s Fir Tree pub.
But when the case came to court, he denied assisting an offender, saying he was acting under duress.
The trial judge dismissed his defence and now Boy M’s solicitors have filed papers with the Court of Appeal, challenging Mr Justice Irwin’s ruling and the subsequent conviction.
He was given a two-year supervision order and curfew.
On Wednesday, the Attorney General referred co-defendant James Yates’ seven-year jail term to the Court of Appeal, which will decide if the punishment for the 21-year-old, of Dodman Road, Croxteth, was too soft.
THE ECHO