Appeal For Information - 10th Anniversary Of Murder Of Andrew Jones
Mums all over the region will be looking forward to Mothering
Sunday this Sunday, 10 March 2013, but spare a thought this weekend
for Christine Jones who, with her husband, Andy, will be taking
part in a vigil to remember her son, Andrew, who died ten years ago
after being assaulted in Liverpool city centre.
Family and friends of Andrew will be attending the vigil, which
will start at 1.15pm in St Johns Gardens at the rear of St Georges
Hall and they will then walk at 1.50pm to the junction of Hanover
Street and Seel Street for the laying of flowers in Andrew's
memory.
Andrew, who was just 18 years at the time, was enjoying a night
out with friends in Liverpool city centre when he was attacked in
the early hours of Sunday, 9 March 2003, and he died the following
day as a result of his injuries.
Police officers found Andrew lying in Hanover Street, at its
junction with Gradwell Street, just before 3.30am. He had suffered
serious head injuries and was taken to the Royal Liverpool
University Hospital.
A £10,000 reward is being offered by Merseyside
Police for information leading to the arrest and prosecution
of the person, or persons, responsible for Andrew 's death and
detectives will be appealing to football fans at Goodison this
weekend in the hope that someone in the crowd may have information
that could help them with their inquiries.
Detective Superintendent Dave Brunskill of Merseyside Police
said: "The sense of loss to Andrew 's family has not gone away. His
family has been through a harrowing experience, both in terms of
losing their son and then left feeling that justice hasn't been
done.
"Someone knows what happened that night and knows who is
responsible. Now is the time to search your conscience, to realise
the pain that Andrew 's family still feel to this day and to do the
right thing. By coming forward now, you can help bring this
investigation to its proper conclusion and help this family find
some peace.
Error parsing XSLT file: \xslt\uTube/chromeless.player.xslt
He added: "In March 2007 Merseyside Police put together an
agreement with the region's six major sports stadia to use their
premises for appeals about serious and organised crime.
"On Saturday, a near-capacity crowd is expected to turn up at
the Everton match against Wigan and we will be using this
opportunity to appeal for people to come forward with information,
which could lead to the arrest of those responsible for the death
of Andrew.
"We will be making appeals before the match, posters will be
distributed around the ground and we will be using the electronic
advertising boards round the pitch to appeal for witnesses and
information, and we hope that someone in the the crowd may have
some information, which could help us with our inquiry.
"As well as the appeal at the ground we will also be using the
Big Screens in Liverpool City Centre (Clayton Square and Lime
Street) to appeal to people who may have information that could
help us bring the offenders to justice. We have also joined forces
with Merseytravel, who are assisting in putting appeal posters up
at bus stops throughout the city, some buses will also be
displaying the posters. All of this activity will be supplemented
by appeals in media and will include an appeal on the BBC
Crimewatch website - www.bbc.co.uk/Crimewatch.
"The force will be using digital media (including its
website and Twitter) to appeal to those who may be to help the
inquiry"
He continued: "We are determined to find those responsible for
Andrew's death and will leave no stone unturned in our bid to get
justice for his family."
Andrew 's parents have vehemently campaigned for justice for
their son in the hope that someone will come forward with
information.
In advance of the vigil on Sunday, Andrew 's mum Christine,
said: "I want to appeal to the girls who were with those who
attacked Andrew on that night. Ten years on they must still be
heavy with that guilt.
"I would say to them if you close your eyes and imagine it's
your son where Andrew is; imagine the pain and torment you're going
through and your son is looking down, watching the pain and torment
you are going through.
"Surely you would want someone to come forward and give
information so justice could be done and your son could finally
rest in peace once and for all, and put closure on your own
life.
"The girls who were there that night may have children
themselves now and may be able to try and understand what I am
going through. It's Mother's Day on Sunday and I would like to be
able to go out for a meal with Andrew and the rest of my family
like everyone else, but instead I will be campaigning for justice
for him."
Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives from the
Major Incident Team on 0151 777 8660, or the
independent Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555
111.