Who is “Claire Olssen” in Little Boy Blue? Mother of “Latch” who was intimidated about her statement in Rhys Jones murder case
THE shocking murder of 11-year-old Rhys Jones in 2007 has been turned into a compelling four-part ITV drama a decade on.
But who is the woman known as "Claire Olssen" in Little Boy Blue who breavely gives crucial evidence despite being threatened not to? Here’s her background…
Who is "Claire Olssen" in Little Boy Blue?
"Claire Olssen" is the fictional name given to the character who plays the mother of Jordan "Latch" Olssen, known as Boy M in court.
Boy M was just 16 at the time of the murder and found himself labelled a “grass”.
"Claire Olssen" gave evidence in the trial - where she was known as Ms M - where he admitted that a member of the Croxteth Crew called at her home shortly after schoolboy Rhys was shot dead.
Ms M played a crucial role in telling police about the movements of Sean Mercer, Nathan Quinn and James Yates when her son would not.
A police bug in her house provided vital evidence for the case.
Who is Boy M?
Boy M was the name used in court for the character known as Jordan Olssen or "Latch" in Little Boy Blue. His real identity is a secret.
The bedroom of the emotionally vulnerable teenager was used by Mercer and his gang to plan a cover-up.
Boy M also knew about the revolver that was used in the shooting of Rhys being taken to another boy’s house and hidden.
He suffers from ADHD and when he was charged had not left his home for two years, according to The Guardian.
He followed the Croxteth Crew gang members “like a little lost sheep” after befriending them four years before.
A year before the schoolboy was killed, Boy M was beaten up when he told police the names of criminals who stole a van and then shot the owner when he came to find it.
A video clip showed him abusing his mother for speaking to the police, saying she was lucky he did not give her a “crack”.
Boy M escaped a prison sentence but was given a two-year supervision order with a four-month 7pm to 7am curfew for assisting an offender.
Was the mum of Boy M threatened by Nathan Quinn’s mother?
During the case the court heard how Nathan Quinn’s mum told Ms M to “Just f****** forget about it”.
She is heard to ask: “If Mercer’s got nothing to hide, why is he saying he wasn’t here?”
Quinn’s mum, Marie Thompson, tells her: “Listen to me. My son was not here.”
Ms M: “They came here that night, why should I lie?”
Ms Thompson: “You’ve just got to say you got the wrong day. Just f****** forget about it.”
Mercer was also heard telling Boy M's grandmother to change her story about the day he visited the house.
Who is Nathan Quinn?
Nathan Quinn was jailed for two years in 2009 for helping killer Sean Mercer get rid of the murder weapon.
Quinn apparently joined the Croxeth Crew at the age of 11 before being shot in the back at the age of 14.
He kept the pellets from the drive-by shooting in his body like a kind of trophy.
During the investigation into Rhys’ murder, Quinn — then 17 — refused to speak to the police.
Quinn was accused of helping Mercer get rid of the murder victim.
Who is Sean Mercer?
Mercer was a gun-obsessed 16-year-old and a leading member of the Croxteth Young Guns gang when he fatally shot Rhys with a stray bullet from a battered World War One revolver.
None of his intended targets was hit.
During his trial, Liverpool Crown Court heard that Mercer’s ‘Crocky Crew’ were involved in a turf war with the Strand Gang, aka the ‘Nogga Dogz’, from the neighbouring Norris Green estate.
Rhys died at the scene, in the arms of his mother Melanie who rushed to the scene when she heard the news.
Mercer fled, hiding at a friend’s and calling on gang members to help him escape capture.
It took eight months for Mercer to be charged. When his case came to court, in December 2008, the jury convicted him unanimously.
A string of his fellow gang members were also jailed for trying to protect him.
His mum Janette, a £50-a-night prostitute, was jailed for three years for lying to police investigating her son.
