Rhys Jones: the murder that shocked Liverpool

Rhys Jones, 11, was shot and killed in Croxteth Park, Liverpool, as he walked home from football training on 22 August 2007 Photograph: Merseyside Police/PA

Rhys Jones, pictured with father Stephen, brother Owen and mother Melanie on a family holiday Photograph: Merseyside Police/PA

CCTV image of a boy on a BMX cycle outside the Fir Tree pub in Liverpool where Rhys was shot Photograph: Merseyside Police/PA

23 August 2007: Stephen and Melanie Jones, the parents of Rhys Jones, attend a press conference at Merseyside police headquarters the day after Rhys was killed Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

23 August 2007: Police forensic officers examine the scene in the Croxteth area of Liverpool Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

23 August 2007: Merseyside police search the area cordoned off outside the Fir Tree pub Photograph: Cate Gillon/Getty

23 August 2007: Schoolfriends of Rhys Jones lay flowers at the location of his shooting Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP

24 August 2007: Melanie and Stephen Jones visit the scene of their son's killing in Liverpool to read tributes left by friends and wellwishers Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP

25 August 2007: Everton FC football fans pay their respects to Rhys Jones. A mirror tribute to Rhys was placed at the Dixie Dean statue outside the club's Goodison Park ground Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

25 August 25 2007: Everton's manager David Moyes (left) stands with Rhys Jones's family – father Stephen, mother Melanie and brother Owen – during a minute's silence before the start of the Premier League match between Everton and Blackburn Rovers at Goodison Park Photograph: Peter Byrne/AFP

28 August 2007: Mourners stand near the scene of the shooting in Croxteth Photograph: Jon Super/AP

6 September 2007: The coffin of Rhys Jones arrives at Liverpool cathedral for the funeral Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty

6 September 2007: Rhys Jones' father, Stephen (right) and uncle Neil take the coffin from Liverpool cathedral after the funeral service Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty

6 September 2007: Melanie Jones touches the coffin of her son Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty

6 September 2007: Crowds gather outside Liverpool cathedral for the funeral of Rhys Jones Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty

15 April 2008: Tributes tied to a tree outside the closed down Fir Tree pub in Croxteth Park, Liverpool where Rhys Jones was shot and killed Photograph: Christopher Thomond/freelancer

15 April 2008: Police officers cordon off Good Shepherd Close in Liverpool where arrests were made in connection with the murder of Rhys Jones Photograph: Christopher Thomond/freelancer

Smith and Wesson .455 revolver, allegedly used to kill Rhys Jones, which was found in the loft of a house that was raided by police Photograph: Merseyside Police/PA

17 April 2008: A prison van arrives at Liverpool magistrates court in Liverpool where a 17 year-old boy is charged with the murder of Rhys Jones near his family home in August 2007 Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP

Merseyside police CCTV still of Sean Mercer in custody Photograph: Merseyside Police/PA

Sean Mercer was found guilty at Liverpool crown court of the murder of 11-year-old Rhys Jone Photograph: Reuters

16 December 2008: Melanie and Stephen Jones talk to the press outside Liverpool crown court after Sean Mercer, 18, was found guilty of the murder of their 11-year-old son Rhys Jones Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA