The UK was shocked when 11-year-old Rhys Jones died after a stray bullet fired in a gangland dispute struck the youngster, and then reeled as the despicable crime was covered up. Young Rhys, an Everton fan, had been walking home from football practise with his mum on August 22, 2007, 15 years ago today, and he sadly died at the scene.
He had unwittingly walked into a gang fight between Sean Mercer and his gang, the Croxteth Crew, and rivals from Strand Gang who had strayed onto their 'patch' in Liverpool. Sean fired three shots - including one after he saw Rhys fall - from a World War I-era Smith & Wesson revolver before fleeing the scene.
He then tried to cover up the crime with 10 accomplices but eventually, in 2008, they found themselves in court, where Sean was jailed for life, with a minimum sentence of 22 years behind bars.
