Sean Mercer to appeal conviction and sentence for Rhys Jones murder

SEAN Mercer has launched an appeal against his conviction and sentence for
the murder of Liverpool schoolboy Rhys Jones.

The legal team acting for the Croxteth Crew gang member, 18, lodged papers
with the Court of Appeal this week, it was confirmed today.

It had been thought Mercer, of Good Shepherd Close, would try to appeal the
length of his sentence - set at life with a minimum of 22 years by High
Court Judge Mr Justice Irwin last month.

But the papers submitted to the Criminal Appeal Office at the Royal Court of
Justice in London say he will be also be contesting both the decision of the
seven women and five men who made up the jury and the tariff set down.

The jury listened for 11 weeks before finding Mercer unanimously guilty of
murder. They took three-and-a-half days before coming back with their
decision.

Mercer killed Everton-mad Rhys, 11, as he walked home from football practice
on Wednesday August 22, 2007.

Rhys was less than 200 yards from home when he was hit by a bullet fired
across the car park of the Fir Tree pub, Fir Tree Drive South, Croxteth
Park.

Mercer fired three shots in total at rival gang members from Norris Green.
The second hit Rhys but he still let off the third in an attempt to hit his
targets.

He was convicted on December 15 and had 28 days to launch an appeal. That
deadline ran out on Monday, the day the papers were filed with the court by
his Liverpool legal team, James Benson solicitors.

A spokeswoman at the Criminal Appeal Office said: "We can confirm we have
received an application to appeal both sentence and conviction.

"The papers were lodged on Monday."

Now it is thought an appeal judge will look over the application and decide
if it should be argued before a bench of judges.

If the case is referred up, three senior judges will hear the appeal.

In his sentencing remarks, Mr Justice Irwin branded Mercer, and the six
other convicted of trying to cover up his crime, as "cowards".

"Discgusted"  wrote in message 
news:XMudncp1sbeis-fUnZ2dnUVZ8jqWnZ2d@bt.com...
> Sean Mercer to appeal conviction and sentence for Rhys Jones murder
>
> SEAN Mercer has launched an appeal against his conviction and sentence for
> the murder of Liverpool schoolboy Rhys Jones.
>

If he has evidence to suggest he didn't do it then he has a right to 
appeal -
just like anyone else.  How was he ever convicted for Murder?  He didn't
set out to kill the boy, so he might have this reduced to manslaughter.  It
was only kept as Murder because the press kept on at the police to
investgate properly.  It is a shame Merseyside Police do not give every
case the interest they give this murder!
Some methods of bugging property could be seen as illegal too.

> The legal team acting for the Croxteth Crew gang member, 18, lodged papers
> with the Court of Appeal this week, it was confirmed today.
>
> It had been thought Mercer, of Good Shepherd Close, would try to appeal 
> the
> length of his sentence - set at life with a minimum of 22 years by High
> Court Judge Mr Justice Irwin last month.
>
> But the papers submitted to the Criminal Appeal Office at the Royal Court 
> of
> Justice in London say he will be also be contesting both the decision of 
> the
> seven women and five men who made up the jury and the tariff set down.
>

Liverpool is usually regarded as a court with the highest acquittal rate, 
that is why
it is popular.  It depends on the intelligence level of the jury.  It would 
seem a
lot of them are lacking in the intelligence department.

> The jury listened for 11 weeks before finding Mercer unanimously guilty of
> murder. They took three-and-a-half days before coming back with their
> decision.
>

Well he might win the appeal because the Judge has misdirected the jury.  He
obviously doesn't understand the difference between murder and manslaughter!
Jurors often do string it out if they have to go back to work early or miss
out on the vast expenses they are paid.
The case should not have been heard in Liverpool, too many jurors are from
the area and can be influenced by media coverage.

> Mercer killed Everton-mad Rhys, 11, as he walked home from football 
> practice
> on Wednesday August 22, 2007.
>

He did kill him, but he didn't murder him - there is a legal difference.

> Rhys was less than 200 yards from home when he was hit by a bullet fired
> across the car park of the Fir Tree pub, Fir Tree Drive South, Croxteth
> Park.
>

Maybe if Merseyside Police had not chosen to ignore the gang problem
and activities this might not have happened.


> Mercer fired three shots in total at rival gang members from Norris Green.
> The second hit Rhys but he still let off the third in an attempt to hit 
> his
> targets.
>
> He was convicted on December 15 and had 28 days to launch an appeal. That
> deadline ran out on Monday, the day the papers were filed with the court 
> by
> his Liverpool legal team, James Benson solicitors.
>

It' a complex case, so it does take time.

> A spokeswoman at the Criminal Appeal Office said: "We can confirm we have
> received an application to appeal both sentence and conviction.
>
> "The papers were lodged on Monday."
>
> Now it is thought an appeal judge will look over the application and 
> decide
> if it should be argued before a bench of judges.
>
> If the case is referred up, three senior judges will hear the appeal.
>
> In his sentencing remarks, Mr Justice Irwin branded Mercer, and the six
> other convicted of trying to cover up his crime, as "cowards".
>
That's probably true.

He had the opportunity to give evidence in his defense that he refused to 
do.  Thank goodness he was bugged it got a coke driven selfish killer off 
the street.   The trouble is with people who go on about rights is they 
forget about peoples responsibilities.

"James R"  wrote in message 
news:glff00$aov$1@news.albasani.net...
>
> "Discgusted"  wrote in message 
> news:XMudncp1sbeis-fUnZ2dnUVZ8jqWnZ2d@bt.com...
>> Sean Mercer to appeal conviction and sentence for Rhys Jones murder
>>
>> SEAN Mercer has launched an appeal against his conviction and sentence 
>> for
>> the murder of Liverpool schoolboy Rhys Jones.
>>
>
> If he has evidence to suggest he didn't do it then he has a right to 
> appeal -
> just like anyone else.  How was he ever convicted for Murder?  He didn't
> set out to kill the boy, so he might have this reduced to manslaughter. 
> It
> was only kept as Murder because the press kept on at the police to
> investgate properly.  It is a shame Merseyside Police do not give every
> case the interest they give this murder!
> Some methods of bugging property could be seen as illegal too.
>
>> The legal team acting for the Croxteth Crew gang member, 18, lodged 
>> papers
>> with the Court of Appeal this week, it was confirmed today.
>>
>> It had been thought Mercer, of Good Shepherd Close, would try to appeal 
>> the
>> length of his sentence - set at life with a minimum of 22 years by High
>> Court Judge Mr Justice Irwin last month.
>>
>> But the papers submitted to the Criminal Appeal Office at the Royal Court 
>> of
>> Justice in London say he will be also be contesting both the decision of 
>> the
>> seven women and five men who made up the jury and the tariff set down.
>>
>
> Liverpool is usually regarded as a court with the highest acquittal rate, 
> that is why
> it is popular.  It depends on the intelligence level of the jury.  It 
> would seem a
> lot of them are lacking in the intelligence department.
>
>> The jury listened for 11 weeks before finding Mercer unanimously guilty 
>> of
>> murder. They took three-and-a-half days before coming back with their
>> decision.
>>
>
> Well he might win the appeal because the Judge has misdirected the jury. 
> He
> obviously doesn't understand the difference between murder and 
> manslaughter!
> Jurors often do string it out if they have to go back to work early or 
> miss
> out on the vast expenses they are paid.
> The case should not have been heard in Liverpool, too many jurors are from
> the area and can be influenced by media coverage.
>
>> Mercer killed Everton-mad Rhys, 11, as he walked home from football 
>> practice
>> on Wednesday August 22, 2007.
>>
>
> He did kill him, but he didn't murder him - there is a legal difference.
>
>> Rhys was less than 200 yards from home when he was hit by a bullet fired
>> across the car park of the Fir Tree pub, Fir Tree Drive South, Croxteth
>> Park.
>>
>
> Maybe if Merseyside Police had not chosen to ignore the gang problem
> and activities this might not have happened.
>
>
>> Mercer fired three shots in total at rival gang members from Norris 
>> Green.
>> The second hit Rhys but he still let off the third in an attempt to hit 
>> his
>> targets.
>>
>> He was convicted on December 15 and had 28 days to launch an appeal. That
>> deadline ran out on Monday, the day the papers were filed with the court 
>> by
>> his Liverpool legal team, James Benson solicitors.
>>
>
> It' a complex case, so it does take time.
>
>> A spokeswoman at the Criminal Appeal Office said: "We can confirm we have
>> received an application to appeal both sentence and conviction.
>>
>> "The papers were lodged on Monday."
>>
>> Now it is thought an appeal judge will look over the application and 
>> decide
>> if it should be argued before a bench of judges.
>>
>> If the case is referred up, three senior judges will hear the appeal.
>>
>> In his sentencing remarks, Mr Justice Irwin branded Mercer, and the six
>> other convicted of trying to cover up his crime, as "cowards".
>>
> That's probably true.
>
>

Well said.

"Discgusted"  wrote in message 
news:V5mdnV05p4gKU-bUnZ2dnUVZ8vydnZ2d@bt.com...
> He had the opportunity to give evidence in his defense that he refused to 
> do.  Thank goodness he was bugged it got a coke driven selfish killer off 
> the street.   The trouble is with people who go on about rights is they 
> forget about peoples responsibilities.
>
> "James R"  wrote in message 
> news:glff00$aov$1@news.albasani.net...
>>
>> "Discgusted"  wrote in message 
>> news:XMudncp1sbeis-fUnZ2dnUVZ8jqWnZ2d@bt.com...
>>> Sean Mercer to appeal conviction and sentence for Rhys Jones murder
>>>
>>> SEAN Mercer has launched an appeal against his conviction and sentence 
>>> for
>>> the murder of Liverpool schoolboy Rhys Jones.
>>>
>>
>> If he has evidence to suggest he didn't do it then he has a right to 
>> appeal -
>> just like anyone else.  How was he ever convicted for Murder?  He didn't
>> set out to kill the boy, so he might have this reduced to manslaughter. 
>> It
>> was only kept as Murder because the press kept on at the police to
>> investgate properly.  It is a shame Merseyside Police do not give every
>> case the interest they give this murder!
>> Some methods of bugging property could be seen as illegal too.
>>
>>> The legal team acting for the Croxteth Crew gang member, 18, lodged 
>>> papers
>>> with the Court of Appeal this week, it was confirmed today.
>>>
>>> It had been thought Mercer, of Good Shepherd Close, would try to appeal 
>>> the
>>> length of his sentence - set at life with a minimum of 22 years by High
>>> Court Judge Mr Justice Irwin last month.
>>>
>>> But the papers submitted to the Criminal Appeal Office at the Royal 
>>> Court of
>>> Justice in London say he will be also be contesting both the decision of 
>>> the
>>> seven women and five men who made up the jury and the tariff set down.
>>>
>>
>> Liverpool is usually regarded as a court with the highest acquittal rate, 
>> that is why
>> it is popular.  It depends on the intelligence level of the jury.  It 
>> would seem a
>> lot of them are lacking in the intelligence department.
>>
>>> The jury listened for 11 weeks before finding Mercer unanimously guilty 
>>> of
>>> murder. They took three-and-a-half days before coming back with their
>>> decision.
>>>
>>
>> Well he might win the appeal because the Judge has misdirected the jury. 
>> He
>> obviously doesn't understand the difference between murder and 
>> manslaughter!
>> Jurors often do string it out if they have to go back to work early or 
>> miss
>> out on the vast expenses they are paid.
>> The case should not have been heard in Liverpool, too many jurors are 
>> from
>> the area and can be influenced by media coverage.
>>
>>> Mercer killed Everton-mad Rhys, 11, as he walked home from football 
>>> practice
>>> on Wednesday August 22, 2007.
>>>
>>
>> He did kill him, but he didn't murder him - there is a legal difference.
>>
>>> Rhys was less than 200 yards from home when he was hit by a bullet fired
>>> across the car park of the Fir Tree pub, Fir Tree Drive South, Croxteth
>>> Park.
>>>
>>
>> Maybe if Merseyside Police had not chosen to ignore the gang problem
>> and activities this might not have happened.
>>
>>
>>> Mercer fired three shots in total at rival gang members from Norris 
>>> Green.
>>> The second hit Rhys but he still let off the third in an attempt to hit 
>>> his
>>> targets.
>>>
>>> He was convicted on December 15 and had 28 days to launch an appeal. 
>>> That
>>> deadline ran out on Monday, the day the papers were filed with the court 
>>> by
>>> his Liverpool legal team, James Benson solicitors.
>>>
>>
>> It' a complex case, so it does take time.
>>
>>> A spokeswoman at the Criminal Appeal Office said: "We can confirm we 
>>> have
>>> received an application to appeal both sentence and conviction.
>>>
>>> "The papers were lodged on Monday."
>>>
>>> Now it is thought an appeal judge will look over the application and 
>>> decide
>>> if it should be argued before a bench of judges.
>>>
>>> If the case is referred up, three senior judges will hear the appeal.
>>>
>>> In his sentencing remarks, Mr Justice Irwin branded Mercer, and the six
>>> other convicted of trying to cover up his crime, as "cowards".
>>>
>> That's probably true.
>>
>>
>