Murder of Anthony Walker

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Anthony Walker (21 February 1987 - 30 July 2005), a British student of African descent from Huyton, Knowsley, England, was murdered with an ice axe, by Michael Barton and his cousin Paul Taylor, in a racially motivated crime. Anthony was 18 years old and was in his second year of A levels. Anthony Walker lived with his mother, Gee Walker, his father, Steve Walker, his two sisters and one brother.

Murder

Prior to the assault, a hooded man in his late teens, deliberately frightened and intimidated Walker using racist abuse at a bus stop outside the "Huyton Park" pub where Anthony was waiting for a bus with his girlfriend Louise Thompson and his cousin Marcus Binns.^[1]

As they walked to another bus stop, they were attacked; Walker's girlfriend^[2] and cousin ran to get help, and returned to find Walker almost dead with injuries to his head. He was taken to a hospital, but died there six hours later.^[1] Walker was killed with a blow to the head from an ice axe, which was found at the scene of the crime.^[3]

Trial

Michael Barton and Paul Taylor were sent for trial at Preston Crown Court. Taylor pleaded guilty to murder but Barton, who denied the same charge, was convicted of the killing on the grounds he supplied the weapon and started the confrontation.

On 30 November 2005, Paul Taylor and his cousin Michael Barton (the half-brother of footballer Joey Barton) were found guilty of the racially motivated murder of Walker. They were sentenced the following day. ^[3]

Following the trial judge, Mr Justice Leveson's recommendation of a minimum sentence, Taylor, who had delivered the fatal blow, received a minimum of 23 years and 8 months in prison; Barton, who had supplied the ice axe, received a minimum of 17 years and 8 months.^[4]

Taylor is expected to remain in prison until at least August 2028 and the age of 43. Barton is expected to remain behind bars until at least August 2023 and the age of 35.

Passing sentence, Mr. Justice Leveson said that the cousins had perpetrated a "terrifying ambush" and a "racist attack of a type poisonous to any civilized society".^[4]

Aftermath

In April 2006 it was reported that Barton had been attacked by fellow inmates at Moorland Closed Prison near Doncaster, South Yorkshire.^[5]

Three other people were later found guilty of helping Barton and Taylor flee to Holland before their eventual arrest. On 10 May 2006 Robert Williams was convicted of providing money and booking a hotel room for the pair. He was sentenced to two years and four months. Paul Morson was sentenced to 11 months in prison for providing a getaway car. Tracy Garner admitted assisting an offender and received an 11-month suspended sentence and 50 hours of community service.^[6]

Although they drew frequent comparisons, many denied that there were similarities between Walker's killing and that of Stephen Lawrence in 1993. One such critic was Labour MP Edward O'Hara, who stated that, although there was a "certain surface comparison", Walker's killing was "random, exceptional and representative of absolutely nothing".^[7]

Anthony's mother, however, justified a her attitude towards her son's killing, claiming "I have to forgive them. I can't feel anger and hatred, because that is what killed my son".

The Anthony Walker Law Scholarship Scheme

On 2 April 2008, the Crown Prosecution Service announced a legal scholarship in Walker's memory. The scheme will offer one place in CPS Merseyside to a trainee solicitor who wants to become a fully-fledged solicitor or barrister. It is open to any black or ethnic minority person who has secured or intends to apply for a place to study the LPC or BVC full-time.

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