COLD-BLOODED KILLER
Sean Mercer now: What happened to Rhys Jones’ killer and associate James Yates?
RYHS Jones' young life was brutally cut short when he was shot dead in 2007.
The innocent 11-year-old was caught in a gangland crossfire and was killed by evil Sean Mercer.
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Who is Sean Mercer?
Sean Mercer, born September 17, 1990, was raised in Fazakerley, Liverpool.
At the time of Rhys Jones' murder, he was a gun-obsessed 16-year-old.
When he fatally shot the 11-year-old with a stray bullet from a battered revolver leader of the Croxteth Young Guns gang.
Everton fan Rhys had been on his way home from football practice when he was caught in the deadly gangland crossfire in Croxteth in August 2007.
Mercer's intended target, Wayne Brady, who was a member of the Norris Green Strand Gang, was not hit.
During his trial, Liverpool Crown Court heard that Mercer’s "Crocky Crew" were involved in a turf war with the Strand Gang, AKA the "Nogga Dogz", from the neighbouring Norris Green estate.
There had been more than 20 reports of shots from cars or bikes between 2004 and 2007.
When told that three Strand Gang members had been seen on Crocky Crew territory, Mercer raced there on a BMX, armed with the Smith & Wesson .455 revolver.
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He fired three shots - the second of which hit Rhys in the back.
The youngster died at the scene, in the arms of his mother Melanie who rushed to the scene when she heard the news.
At least 12 people had witnessed Rhys being shot, but a wall of silence surrounded his killing - as a culture of intimidation left people with information too scared to speak to the police.
Mercer was arrested within days but denied murder, claiming he had been at a friend’s watching a DVD when Rhys was killed.
Rhys Jones' dad reveals moment he was told son, 11, had been shot as cop sobs reliving gang murder
It took eight months for Mercer to be charged. When his case came to court, in December 2008, the jury convicted him unanimously.
A string of his fellow gang members were also jailed for perverting the course of justice in an attempt to protect Mercer.
Where is Sean Mercer now?
Mercer was sentenced to a minimum of 22 years.
He has been serving his sentence in Frankland Prison, Durham, and the earliest he will be let out is 2030 - when he will be 40 years old.
The infamous prison is nicknamed "Monster Mansion" and was home to serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, AKA the Yorkshire Ripper.
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It also houses child murderer Ian Huntley.
Mercer was first held in HMP Manchester and later spent time at Doncaster’s Moorland jail and HMP Woodhill, Milton Keynes.
After spending four years at HM Prison Wakefield, West Yorkshire, he was moved 92 miles north to Frankland in County Durham.
In 2020, while in Category B Dovegate near Uttoxeter, Staffs, Mercer was found to be using an illicit phone hidden in his cell, which he used to chat up a woman he had met online.
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The pair carried out an eight-month relationship and during this time he wrote that he was in jail because he had “accidentally” hurt someone, and that he dreams of becoming a dad to “1, maybe 2 babies” when he is released.
The discovery of the phone led the killer to be moved back to Frankland.
The find came just after Mercer asked courts to consider cutting his life sentence in half - after claiming he was a model prisoner.
Speaking on the matter, Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said: “The fact that Sean Mercer has conducted an eight-month relationship from his prison cell using a mobile phone clearly shows he has no regard for the law.
“It will also be heartbreaking for Rhys’s parents to hear Mercer has enjoyed a romantic relationship.
“Their son was callously shot dead before he was ever able to experience having a proper girlfriend.”
Mercer was moved to the "Monster mansion" in 2022, where he remains to this day.
What happened to Sean Mercer's associate, James Yates?
Known to his friends as "Yatesy", James Yates was a member of the Croxteth Crew gang.
Yates gave Mercer the Smith and Wesson gun with which he shot Rhys.
And as Rhys lay dying, he helped Mercer dispose of his bike, clothes and the gun he had provided him with mere minutes before the shooting.
He was sent down for a maximum of twelve years for his crime in 2009.
After being sent down, Yates requested “vulnerable prison” status and was taunted with the nickname “Baby Killer” by fellow inmates.
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Where is James Yates now?
Yates won parole after convincing officials that he is no longer a threat to society, and was released in 2014.
In March, 2017, Yates and fellow gang member Dean Kelly were cleared of running a drug ring after witnesses refused to point the finger at them.
But Yates was sent back in prison for breaching the terms of his licence.
In 2020, it was confirmed that Yates was freed once again - after his original 12 year sentence had expired, alongside the terms of the licence which originally banned him from returning to the Croxteth area.
How to watch Five The Clues That Caught the Killer
This documentary examines the investigation into the murder of 11-year-old Rhys Jones in Liverpool.
Detectives involved in one of the most notorious cases of recent times recall how Sean Mercer was convicted for Rhys's murder, despite little evidence and an unwillingness among witnesses to talk.
You can watch it on Channel 5 at 11.35pm and also on their streaming service My5.
Rhys' family statement on Sean Mercer's conviction
After Mercer was sentenced to 22 years behind bars, Rhys' family read this statement outside court:
"Finally justice has been done for Rhys.
"Firstly we would like to record our enormous gratitude to the Merseyside Police officers whose professionalism and perseverance secured this outcome, especially Mr Kelly and our family liaison officers.
“From the day Rhys died, the kindness shown to us by the people of Liverpool has been immeasurable. For this we will always thanks you from the bottom of our hearts.
“Over the months we’ve found strength in the messages of support from many thousands of strangers around the world.
“But for us as a family today this is not the final chapter in this tragedy.
"But now, at least we can begin the challenge of rebuilding our lives. Thank you all very much.”
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