Police Receive New Leads In Rhys Murder Inquiry

Police investigating the murder of Merseyside schoolboy Rhys Jones have said that they received a good response from an appeal on BBC One's Crimewatch show on Wednesday night.

More than 60 calls have been made to the programme following last night's appeal, including 12 calls, which named the same person as a suspect.

One call also suggested a possible location for the murder weapon, while another identified a new potential witness - the driver of a red car who was near the scene of the shooting just minutes after it took place.

Rhys, who would have turned 12 today, was shot dead by a hooded teenager on a BMX bike as he walked home from football practice in Croxteth in Liverpool on August 22.

Speaking on last night's Crimewatch programme, Rhys' mother Melanie Jones appealed for the mother of the teenager to hand her son in. She said: "She must know it is him, or she must have some suspicion. Even for his own safety, she should hand him in.

"We can't rest or even try to move on without this person being caught and brought to justice."

The programme also broadcast a reconstruction of Rhys' murder, which happened near the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth. CCTV footage showing the suspected killer was also shown. Experts have enhanced the images of the hooded cyclist, taken near the pub car park where Rhys was shot.

Police are still appealing for a man who contacted them three days after the shooting to contact them again.

More than a dozen people have been arrested in connection with Rhys' murder, but no one has yet been charged.

(KMcA)