Rhys's mother to appeal to killer's parents

The mother of British gun victim Rhys Jones will make a direct plea to the mother of his killer on the BBC’s Crimewatch programme tonight.

Melanie Jones, 41, will say: “She must know it is him, or she must have some suspicion.

“Even for his own safety, she should hand him in.

“We can’t rest or try to move on without this person being brought to justice or being caught.”

Rhys, who would have celebrated his 12th birthday tomorrow, was shot dead as he walked home from football practice in Croxteth, Liverpool, on August 22.

The killer was a hooded youth on a BMX bike. So far, 17 people have been arrested but no one has been charged and police admit they have been met with a wall of silence from the local community, fearful of reprisals.

One of the main theories is that Rhys was caught up in a shooting war between rival gangs in east Liverpool.

Tonight’s Crimewatch programme will broadcast a reconstruction of the murder outside the Fir Tree pub exactly five weeks after it took place.

Chief Superintendent Dave Kelly, who is leading the investigation, will also make a live plea for information.

Mr Kelly is expected to make further appeals to a man who made contact with detectives in the days after the shooting and provided valuable information.

He also wants to speak to a woman seen at the wheel of a red car close to the scene, on Fir Tree Drive, minutes after Rhys was gunned down.

He believes both could provide the key to the killer’s identity and will make further efforts to reassure them their confidentiality will be protected.

On Monday, Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown described the killing of Rhys as “abhorrent”.

He unveiled a package of measures at the Labour Party conference which aim to deal with gun crime and gang culture.