A 17-year-old has denied the murder of schoolboy Rhys Jones.

Rhys, 11, was shot dead in a pub car park on August 22 last year as he walked home from football training.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded not guilty to murder at Liverpool Crown Court.

The youth accused of murder, who will soon turn 18, wore rosary beads and a grey Nike T-shirt as he sat in the dock with five other accused and five security guards.

One defendant appeared by video link after the hearing was adjourned for an hour because of technical problems.

James Yates, 20, of Dodman Road, Croxteth, Liverpool, denied possessing a gun and assisting an offender by dumping the murder weapon and clothes.

Gary Kays, 25, of Mallard Close, and Melvin Coy, 24, of Abbeyfield Drive, both Croxteth, denied assisting an offender.

Three other teenagers also denied assisting the killer and one denied possessing a .455 Smith and Wesson revolver, ammunition and a firing pistol.

Rhys's parents Stephen, 45, and Melanie, 42, sat in court with family liaison officers and senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Dave Kelly.

The couple have attended every hearing so far in relation to the seven defendants and four others charged separately over their son's death.

The seven accused will return to Liverpool Crown Court for trial on October 2.

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.