A GANG member who tried to cover up the murder of schoolboy Rhys Jones 16 years ago has been found dead.
Rhys, 11, died after he was shot in the neck by Sean Mercer as he made his way home after playing football with friends in Croxteth, Liverpool.
Police HandoutDean Kelly was jailed for helping his mate Sean Mercer after Rhys Jones was shot dead[/caption]
Photonews ServiceNathan Quinn, Gary Kays, Melvyn Coy and Dean Kelly – front row – Sean Mercer, Kyle McCormick and James Yates at Liverpool Crown Court[/caption]
PA:Press AssociationMurder victim Rhys Jones was a devoted Everton fan[/caption]
Dean Kelly, a close friend of Mercer, hid the murder weapon in his loft after Rhys was shot dead in August 2007 .
When questioned by police, Mercer used the fake alibi that he was at Kelly’s house watching a DVD about US rapper 50 Cent.
Kelly and Mercer were both jailed after police smashed the so called Croxteth Crew gang. Mercer’s mum Janette lied to try and protect him and was jailed.
Now it has emerged that Kelly, 31, was found dead at an address in the Irvine area of Scotland on April 6 this year.
On Friday Liverpool Coroner’s court heard that Kelly died from heart disease. Drugs, including cocaine, were found in his system.
Kelly was jailed after a massive operation by police to smash the Crocky Crew after Rhys was shot dead.
He was charged and convicted with assisting an offender, two counts of possession of a firearm and one of possessing ammunition.
Judge Irwin told Kelly at the time of sentencing in January 2009 : “Clearly under instruction from Mercer you moved the murder weapon from the dog kennel and hid it in the loft.
“No doubt you knew all along what had gone on and leant your help with that knowledge.
“By Sunday 26th (August), the killing was all over the estate and the country. In the middle of that outcry you moved the weapon. You are at significant risk of re-offending and causing harm to the public.”
When he was released on licence Kelly continued to get into trouble with the police. He breached his licence and was later jailed for 10 months for aggravated vehicle taking in 2013.
The Liverpool man later relocated to Scotland and became involved in County Lines drug dealing. Police said he was involved in “violence and intimidation.”
In 2019 he was handed an interim Anti-Social Behaviour Order which banned him from East Lothian. He was later jailed for breaching the terms of the ASBO.
Earlier this year Janette Mercer, now 63, was jailed for lying to police about her drug dealer son.
Janette let her son Joseph live with her while he was wanted by police in relation to drug dealing on the south coast.
Jailing Mercer, Judge David Potter told how Joseph had bullied her in her own home. He said that she lied to police because she was scared of what Joseph might do.
Joseph Mercer had returned to his mum’s house after he served out a 30-month sentence for drug offences.
A Sun investigation revealed she worked as a prostitute during her son Sean’s trial, selling sex on at least two occasions.
Janette worked at a brothel called Elegant Ladies in November 2008 where she offered sex to a reporter for £50 “all in”.
Killer Sean MercerGetty Images
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