A YOUNG boy told a jury how he saw a hooded gunman on a bicycle fire the shots which killed Liverpool schoolboy Rhys Jones in a car park.

The 11-year-old, who cannot be identified, was giving evidence in the trial of Sean Mercer, 18, who denies the murder of 11-year-old Rhys.

The Liverpool Crown Court jury heard a taped interview with the young witness, who was sitting outside the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth, Liverpool, when the fatal shots were fired.

He said: "I was talking and then I saw the lad pointing a gun at something.

"I heard a big loud bang. Then there was a pause and then there were another two shots from the lad.

"Then he went on the bike and I went into the pub. My dad went over (to Rhys) and all the people were around him."

The boy said he could not see the gunman's face, but described him as dressed in a black jacket and tracksuit bottoms with a black hood over his head.

The prosecution claim Mercer fired the three shots across the car park, targeting members of a rival gang who had strayed on to his 'turf'. The second bullet fired, the jury has been told, hit Rhys in the neck and the youngster, who was returning home from football practice, died in his mother Melanie's arms a short time later.

James Yates, 20, of Croxteth, Gary Kays, 25, and Melvin Coy, 24, both of West Derby, Liverpool, are accused of assisting an offender with two boys aged 16 and 17, who cannot be identified for legal reasons

A second 17-year-old boy has been charged with assisting an offender and possessing a firearm and ammunition. All deny the charges. The trial was adjourned for legal discussions and will resume later this morning.