A TEENAGER accused of murdering Merseyside schoolboy Rhys Jones is due to appear in court.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will appear at Liverpool youth court via video link.

The hearing will be heard by District Judge Richard Clancy.

Afterwards Judge Clancy will sit at Liverpool Magistrates' Court where it is expected six others will appear by video link for committal to Crown Court.

James Yates, 20, of Dodman Road, Croxteth, Gary Kays, 25, of Mallard Close, and Melvin Coy, 24, of Abbeyfield Drive, both West Derby, Liverpool, will appear alongside two boys aged 17, who cannot be identified.

All have been charged with assisting an offender.

The sixth, a 16-year-old boy, has been charged assisting an offender and possessing a firearm and ammunition.

Rhys, 11, was shot dead in August last year as he walked home from football practice.

He died in his mother Melanie's arms on the car park of the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth.