Court proceedings involving the mum of Rhys Jones' killer Sean Mercer were paused after she said she was going to "pass out".
Janette Mercer was jailed for three years back in 2009 for perverting the course of justice, having told lies to detectives investigating the 11-year-old schoolboy's murder. On the day of her sentencing on that occasion, she reportedly smiled at friends and family in the public gallery as she was led to the cells by security guards.
The now 63-year-old is currently back before Liverpool Crown Court today, Monday, after pleading guilty to another charge of assisting an offender. This relates to another of her three sons, Joseph Mercer, who she helped while he was being investigated over drug supply offences.
READ MORE: Live updates as mum of Sean Mercer appears in court for sentencing
He was imprisoned for 30 months in October 2020 after being caught peddling heroin and crack cocaine from a hotel room in Bournemouth. The then 25-year-old, of Daisy Street in Kirkdale, was locked up alongside a 29-year-old from Childwall, after both admitted possession of class A drugs with intent to supply.
While court proceedings were ongoing this afternoon, they had to be stopped as Mercer appeared to hyperventilate as her defence counsel, Clare Ashcroft, addressed the judge. Judge David Potter retired to allow for a short break.
Mercer said during the proceedings: “I’m going to pass out, I’m going to faint. I’m going to collapse.”
The 63-year-old will be sentenced this afternoon after pleading guilty to the charge of assisting an offender.
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