Who are Marie and Frank Yates? Couple jailed for perverting the course of justice following the Rhys Jones murder

FRANCIS and Marie Yates were jailed for perverting the course of justice following the murder of 11-year-old Rhys Jones.

Let's take a look at the couple and the case which shocked Britain.

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Who are Francis and Marie Yates?

Francis and Marie Yates conspired to cover the tracks of Rhys Jones' killer and their son, who had supplied him with a firearm.

Everton fan Rhys was gunned down in broad daylight in Croxteth, Liverpool, when a hooded youth cycled by and fired three shots from a handgun.

One struck Rhys in the back as he crossed a pub car park on his way home after football training.

Francis, known as Frank, and Marie admitted perverting the course of justice and were jailed for 18 months in 2009.

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Bugs hidden in the couple's home days after Rhys' death recorded Marie as she burned a sim card that would expose her son, James Yates, as a gang member, while Frank watched on.

Recordings also revealed that Frank had spoken to his son and Rhys' killer Sean Mercer about providing an alibi for Mercer.

Both knew Mercer was the killer, that the gun had been supplied by their son but they chose to prolong the agony of Rhys' family.

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Speaking after their sentencing Rhys' parents, Steve and Melanie, said: "In our eyes Mrs Mercer and Mr and Mrs Yates have always been as guilty as their sons. As adults they should have known right from wrong.

"To intentionally cover up Rhys' murder and to protect a murderer and his accomplices and prolong our agony is unforgivable.

"As parents themselves they should have understood our pain but instead they chose to ignore it.";

Judge Henry Globe QC had said: "You wasted valuable police time and undermined the prospect of justice."

The couple's son James Yates was jailed for seven years for providing the gun.

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