Rhys killer's gang members jailed

Quinn (left) and Kelly (centre) were jailed by a a judge

More gang members convicted of helping Rhys Jones' killer cover his tracks after the 11-year-old's murder in Liverpool have been jailed.

James Yates, 20, Nathan Quinn, 18, Dean Kelly, 17, and Boy M, 16, were found guilty of helping killer Sean Mercer.

Rhys was shot dead by Mercer as he walked home from football practice in Croxteth on 22 August 2007.

At Liverpool Crown Court Yates was sentenced to seven years, Kelly, four years, and Quinn two years in jail.

Boy M is still awaiting sentence.

The 10-week trial heard the four, along with two other gang members, destroyed evidence and hid the murder weapon.

Mercer has already been sentenced to a minimum of 22 years after shooting Rhys dead in the car park of the Fir Tree pub.

Yates, of Dodman Road, Quinn, of Wickett Close, Kelly, of Sword Walk, and Boy M were found guilty of assisting an offender along with fellow Croxteth Crew members Gary Kays, 26, and Melvin Coy, 25.

After the killing Mercer, of Good Shepherd Close, Croxteth, fled the scene by bike to the house of Boy M where a cover-up plan was hatched.

The other gang members then drove Mercer to an industrial site where his clothes were burnt and petrol poured over his body to remove gun residue.

Meanwhile, Kelly provided Mercer with a false alibi after the shooting.

Detectives had bugged the homes of Boy M and Yates. Evidence from the audio was used by the prosecution during the nine-week trial to secure their convictions.