As Liverpool reeled in shock over the murder of a little boy on his way to football practice, Janette Mercer was more concerned with keeping her killer son out of prison.
Sean Mercer's involvement in one of the most sickening crimes of the decade - the murder of 11-year-old Rhys Jones - was no secret in the community long before he was charged. But cases are made on evidence, not hearsay, and detectives worked tirelessly to get the proof needed to ensure justice for Rhys's family.
Rhys was walking across the car park of the Fir Tree Pub in Croxteth Park on August 22, 2007, when he was shot in the neck by Mercer, who was aiming at a rival gang member.
