31/08/2007

Four More Arrests Over Rhys Murder

Four more people have been arrested in connection with murder of Merseyside schoolboy Rhys Jones.

Two men, aged 20 and 24, and two boys aged 17 and 16, all from the Liverpool area, were arrested on Friday morning and are due to be questioned later.

Eleven people have been arrested in the case so far - seven have been released on police bail, while four have been released without charge.

Assistant Chief Constable Patricia Gallan said: "Arrests made so far are based on consistent information from callers and round-the-clock inquiries by detectives.

"Whilst this inquiry progresses swiftly, it is very much part of a focused, clear and confident investigation strategy.

"All individuals arrested so far are absolutely critical to the inquiry.

"When we have grounds to suspect people involved in any stage, they will be arrested in connection with this offence."

Eleven-year-old Rhys was shot by a hooded youth on a BMX bicycle as he played football with his friends in the car park of the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth on August 22.

Rhys' funeral will be held at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral next Thursday. His parents have asked mourners to to celebrate his life by wearing bright colours and football shirts to his funeral.

His parents, Stephen and Melanie Jones, placed a death notice in Friday's edition of the 'Liverpool Echo'. It read: "Rhys, we lost you so suddenly, we keep asking 'why?' you've gone up to heaven to play football in the sky.

"Our hearts are breaking, the pain we can't describe, till we meet again, to stand side by side."

(KMcA/SP)

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