Who is James Yates? Gang member who gave Sean Mercer Rhys Jones’ murder weapon
THE MURDER of Rhys Jones shocked the nation back in 2007 and the heartache for his family continues.
James Yates was jailed in 2009 for supplying the gun to murderer Sean Mercer that killed Rhys.
Who is James Yates?
Rhys Jones was just 11 when he was senselessly killed while walking across a pub car park in Liverpool in August 2007.
Known to his friends as "Yatesy", James Yates, now 30, was a member of the Croxeth Crew gang.
He gave killer Sean Mercer the Smith and Wesson gun with which he shot Rhys.
As Rhys lay dying, Yates helped Mercer dispose of his bike, clothes and the gun he had provided him with mere minutes before the shooting.
Is Yates in jail and is he going to be released?
Yates was sent down for a maximum of twelve years for his crime in 2009.
Police sniffed out their lies after bugging their home in Croxteth, where they talked openly about the crime and their cover-up.
After being sent down, Yates requested “vulnerable prison” status and was taunted with the nickname “Baby Killer” by fellow inmates.
In 2012 it was reported that Yates was being considered for day release after being moved to an open prison, and then in 2014 he was released just five years after being put behind bars.
Rhys Jones Murder
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.
He won parole after convincing officials that he is no longer a threat to society.
Yates walked free from prison in February 2018.