Liverpool schoolboy Rhys Jones was murdered because of the “intense hatred” of alleged gunman Sean Mercer towards members of a rival gang, a jury was told today.

Three of the accused in the Rhys Jones murder trial said today that they would call no evidence to defend themselves.

A defendant on trial in connection with the killing of 11-year-old Liverpool boy Rhys Jones trial says he was at home with accused gunman Sean Mercer watching a documentary about the rapper 50 Cent when the schoolboy was killed, a court was told today.

A teenager charged in connection with the August 2007 shooting dead of 11-year-old Liverpool boy Rhys Jones asked police to move him to America, declaring “I want to live”, a court heard.

Rhys Jones's alleged killer was found with sketches of guns while on remand in prison for the schoolboy's murder, a British court heard.

A teenager told a jury today how the gun used to kill Rhys Jones was hidden from police in the loft of his home.

The teenager accused of the murder of Rhys Jones asked a key prosecution witness to change her story, a court heard today.