Stiff prison term for teenage gang murderer in Britain (Roundup)

Dec 16, 2008, 18:45 GMT

London - A member of a teenage gang convicted of the shocking murder of 11-year-old schoolboy Rhys Jones in 2007 was Tuesday sentenced to a minimum of 22 years in jail in what was seen as a 'warning' to youths involved in gun and knife crime in Britain.

A judge at Liverpool Crown Court passed sentence on 18-year-old Sean Mercer after a highly emotional trial. The sentence for Mercer, who was 16 at the time of the attack, was seen as a 'deterrent' against youth gangs, commentators said.

Knife and gun crime among young people has spiralled in Britain, where where 27 young people have died in gang-related street violence so far this year.

But the murder of Rhys Jones, at 11 the youngest-ever victim of gun crime in Britain, in August, 2007, shocked the country and made headlines around the world.

James Jones, the Bishop of Liverpool, said Tuesday there was a sense in his city that people had had 'enough of young people being killed by young people.'

He hoped that the murder of Rhys Jones, shot as he returned from football practice on a summer's evening, had strengthened peoples' resolve 'to move away from that kind of society.'

In Liverpool alone there were more than 70 incidents of criminal damage between warring groups this year.

But police say they are winning the battle against gang warfare with offensive new 'gang-buster' tactics adopted from the FBI.

Mercer was convicted of blasting three bullets across a pub car park in the Croxteth district of Liverpool, after targeting rivals who had strayed on to his turf.

Innocent schoolboy Rhys was caught in the line of fire and died a short time later. Initially, police said their investigations were met by a 'wall of silence' as witnesses were afraid to come forward.

The court heard how Mercer was shielded from the police by gang members who helped the killer burn his clothes and wash his body down with petrol to destroy all traces of the crime.

Mercer gave the murder weapon to a 17-year-old boy, known only as X, who was frightened of him and hid the gun in a dog kennel.

A crucial breakthrough was made earlier this year when X accepted immunity from prosecution in exchange for giving evidence against the gang.

Six other gang members were given prison terms of up to seven years Tuesday for helping Mercer to evade the police, and related charges.

When the main verdicts were delivered, only two people in the packed courtroom could not conceal their emotions.

Rhys' mother, Melanie Jones, wept openly in court, while Mercer's father, Joseph McCormick, mouthed 'I love you' to his son as the verdict was announced.