Little Boy Blue

I`ve just finished watching the other programme on Channel 5, The Murder of Rhys Jones, What Happened Next. This was another very emotional programme, featuring the real people.

Yes, I realise that Rhys's Parents wanted the programme to be made, and I'm full of admiration for them for doing so, but I still think it was a very brave thing to have done.

We watched all four episodes, back to back, last night, and thought how well it was done. What I didn't really understand was, why was the senior investigating officer, Kelly, not promoted. He did such a good job. Perhaps it was because he wouldn't be bullied persuaded by Gallo, the female officer who kept pushing for a conviction.

willsmadnan
Mercer got a sentence of life, to serve a minimum of 22 years.
Life should mean life, but as he's not fit to ever see the light of day again, I'd prefer him to have got a death sentence.
Incidentally, he's now apparently only eating tinned food, as he's so worried that 'being made out to be evil' will tempt someone to poison him!

Just watched the last episode on catch-up. What a roller -coaster of emotions.... anger, heartbreak, a sense of injustice...and that was me just watching it! I felt so cross that the judge...or the police officers in the dock , didn't stop the toe-rags messing about during the court proceedings. I wanted to smack them round the head but then later DI Kelly said the judge let them carry to let the jury see what feral scrum they actually were. Smart thinking! One wishes that Shaun Mercer never sees the light of day, but doubtless he will continue his hopeless, benefits-aided life when he is released. BTW....what was his sentence? Didn't see it in the end credits.

In the house that was bugged - the "parents" of that teenager were conspiring with him to lie. He was also one who replied, as advised by his parents, "No comment" - even to his name, when he was questioned.

So when he later wanted to plea bargain, the detective sent a message: "Tell him to go go fuck himself". And then went after the parents too, they were found guilty in a separate trial. That's justice.

Why be upset if a home if such creatures is bugged, if it gets them put away. My sympathies lie with the victims, not the perpetratos.

Agree totally.

Just waiting for someone to start arguing they were all suffering from mental illness

Juggernaut, I totally agree with you the pond life that masqueraded as human beings are a waste of oxygen. To have to sit in court and look at them must have been vomit inducing.

Very good programme, and Juggernaut, if Gransnet had a 'like' option, as does Facebook, I would have clicked on it for your post.
Towards the end of the trial, one of the offenders had said, 'All this for some f.....g kid!'
I agree with what callgirl1 said when she commented on the glorification of gang-thuggery and worse (programme on Channel 5) Like her, I won't be watching that.

It was an excellent programme, well done to the writers and actors. Rhys's family were right to show how evil those people are. I hope they have been able to get on with their lives despite this dreadful tragedy.

Rhys's parents wanted the programme to be produced and aired as it shows exactly how evil the bastard who murdered Rhys and all those who helped him really are.
It's a pity that when Mercer was doused in petrol to remove any traces of gunshot residue, someone didn't throw a match at him
As for the Police bugging the homes of criminals, I have no problem at all with that. I'm sick and tired of 'bleeding heart liberals' giving consideration to offenders, who in my opinion are just a total waste of blood and oxygen.
If anyone thinks the thugs and their parents who were prosecuted in this case have any remorse, or have turned their lives around in any way, I'd recommend that they look at the Liverpool Echo website to find out how many of them have commited crimes since. They're the scum of the earth and have no place in a civilised society.

Yes, I agree with trisher. The programme was well made and executed. Some terrific acting - must have been quite traumatic at times. Rhys's Parents have been very brave, too, for allowing the programme to be made.

I thought this programme was great. Well written and acted, very moving. Felt sorry for the Chief Inspector who worked so hard and wasn't made a permanent Chief Superintendent.

Why do you object to the homes of suspected criminals being bugged and conversations listened to pensionpat?
It has led to many convictions for drug dealers and is strictly controlled- it's called intrusive surveillance
"An authorisation for the use of intrusive surveillance can only be given by the home secretary, a chief constable, the director of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (or another designated official from Soca), designated officials from HM Revenue and Customs and the chairman of the Office of Fair Trading. (There is provision for authorisations to be made by other senior officials in the absence of the chief constable etc.) The person granting the authorisation may only do so if he/she considers that the authorisation is necessary in the interests of national security, for the purpose of preventing or detecting serious crime or in the interests of the economic well-being of the country, and that the surveillance is proportionate to what is sought to be achieved by it. (All three grounds do not apply in all cases and in the case of the OFT an authorisation can only be granted if it is considered necessary for the purposes of investigating a cartel offence.)"

Yes they did and quite rightly so, no PC tip-toeing round criminals of this ilk.

Did I miss something? Did the police really bug the home of a suspect, and use the recordings in court as evidence. I hope I am mistaken!

This was an excellent series. Showing the gang members and their vile families for what they were. The nurse who bravely gave evidence, that ensured the conviction, was in my eyes a heroine, her son had been so badly beaten up and traumatised, but she still stood up in that witness box. The lad in the police protection scheme, I wonder how he is now, he was so brave. The man that led that investigation was brilliant, as were his team, how could the police pass him over for promotion after that? I didn't care for the heartless way he was told, no hint of compassion or understanding, I found that depressing, we have people like that in powerful positions.

I didn`t mean that Little Boy Blue was glorifying gang members, I was talking about the programme on CH 5 about street gangs, saying that I thought these programmes glorify them, WRONGLY. Sorry if I caused any confusion.
Anya, I don`t want to see the programme.

I don't see that at all callgirl - the Little Boy Blue just shows them up as the moronic thugs they, and their families, actually are.

As for the upcoming programme on gangs, how can you judge before you've seen it?

Yes, I'm watching it. I think it has been well made, and in no way glorifies the gang members. I think Rhys's family have been very brave allowing the programme to go ahead. I'm not sure I could have done it. I remember the incident, and was horrified by it. The gang members and some of the Parents were truly callous. I don't know if fear of the consequences of their actions made them lie the way they did, but the programme highlights their ruthlessness and deviousness. The acting is superb. I imagine the actors must have been deeply affected.

I know Trisher, I`ve been watching it, as well as clearly remembering the case at the time.

No glorification in this production callgirl1. The offenders are shown as cowardly, unfeeling, and ignorant. Rhys's family and the other decent families are the heroes.

Happenings like these are what make me so angry when I see trailers for programmes on TV such as the upcoming one on CH5 about youthful gangs. To me it`s just helping them to glorify what they do.