Jury shown Rhys Jones alleged murder weapon

by Angela Johnson. Published Tue 28 Oct 2008 16:37

.45 Smith and Wesson found in loft

The jury in Rhys Jones' murder trial has heard the gun allegedly used to kill Rhys Jones was found in the loft of a house in Croxteth.

The key prosecution witness, identified only as Boy C for legal reasons, was on a family holiday in the USA when police raided the boy's Croxteth home on September 30th last year.

Liverpool Crown Court heard police discovered the alleged murder weapon, a .45 Smith and Wesson revolver, hidden in the loft, wrapped in a red and white plastic carrier bag.

A blue plastic bag carrying a converted imitation Walther PPK pistol and ammunition was found alongside the weapon, the jury was told.

The prosecution case argues Boy C was given the gun by Rhys's alleged killer, Sean Mercer, and told to hide it and tell no-one.

While officers searched Boy C's home, the teenager was at SeaWorld, in Florida, where he was on holiday along with his older brother by his sister and her husband a month after Rhys' murder on 22nd August 2007.

Sean Mercer, 18, denies the murder of Rhys Jones. Six others on trial in connection with the case deny the charge of assisting an offender.