Rhys: TV appeal to killer's mother

The mother of gun victim Rhys Jones will make a direct plea to the mother of his killer on the BBC's Crimewatch programme on Wednesday night.

Melanie Jones, 41, will say: "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 try to move on without this person being brought to justice or being caught."

Rhys, who would have celebrated his 12th birthday on Thursday, was shot dead as he walked home from football practice in Croxteth, Liverpool, on August 22.

The killer was a hooded youth on a BMX bike. So far, 17 people have been arrested but no one has been charged and police admit they have been met with a wall of silence from the local community, fearful of reprisals.

One of the main theories is that Rhys was caught up in a shooting war between rival gangs in east Liverpool. More from Merseyside Police