MANCHESTER City footballer Joey Barton made a series of calls to his brother after the murder of black teenager Anthony Walker, a court heard today.
ANTHONY, 18, was killed with an ice axe in Huyton, Merseyside, in July.
Michael Barton, 17, is on trial at Preston Crown Court, sitting in Liverpool, charged with murder. His cousin, 20-year-old Paul Taylor, has already admitted murder.
The court heard a statement today made by Joey Barton. He said: "I didn't know Anthony Walker. However, I knew him by sight. I would notice him because he was a member of the only black family in the area."
He said: "I was asleep at home when I was woken by my brother, Andrew. He told me he had just received a telephone call from (a friend) saying someone had been found dead in the flower park with an axe in his head. I telephoned Michael because I thought he might know what had happened because he socialises in that area but his phone was off.
"I received a text message from my father. He asked me if I knew what had happened in the park.
"Shortly afterwards I tried again to phone Michael. I got through and I asked him what had gone on in the park. He said he didn't know.
"At this point my brother Andrew said he thought Michael had been in the area on the night. I phoned Michael back because I wanted to confront him and ask him. He said `Listen, I was there, but I didn't kill him. It was Chomper, Chomper killed him'.
He said that in a later call, he refused to give his brother money and tried to persuade him to come home.
Barton and Taylor eventually returned to Liverpool and met police.
The trial continues