You are in > manchester.com  > News > Two arrests made in Jessie James case

General Manchester news

Two arrests made in Jessie James case

09/08/2007

New evidence has come to light in the investigation of the murder of Manchester schoolboy Jessie James, leading to the arrests of two men.

A 21-year-old from Old Trafford and a 20-year-old from Hulme, who police say are linked to Manchester gangs and are already both in jail, face a day of questioning in separate prisons.

The arrests came after a new witness stepped forward as part of the inquest into Jessie's death on the third and final day at Manchester crown court.

Unusually, the coroner for Manchester was holding the inquest in a criminal court in order to allow special measures to be taken to protect the identity of witnesses.

Detective Superintendent Shaun Donnellan said the development was a "breakthrough".

"These developments demonstrate how the community in Moss Side can be confident that if they come forward with information their identities will be protected," he commented.

"This week's events show that the anonymity measures work and you can trust us to keep you safe. No-one will ever know who you are."

Jessie was shot three times with a semi-automatic pistol as he cycled through Broadfield Park in the Moss Side area of Manchester on September 9th 2006.

Police have repeatedly insisted that members of the community know the identity of Jessie's killers, but are too frightened to come forward.

An estimated 55 people have been killed by guns in Greater Manchester in the last eight years.



© Adfero Ltd