THE racist thugs who murdered black Merseyside teenager Anthony Walker have been jailed for a total of 40 years for what the judge described as a "poisonous" attack.
Michael Barton, 17, the brother of Manchester City star Joey ,was told he would serve at least 17 years and eight months for the murder.
His cousin, Paul Taylor, 20, who smashed an ice axe into the 18-year-old's head in Huyton, Merseyside, will spend at least 23 years and eight months in jail.
Judge Leveson told them: "This was a racist attack of a type poisonous to any civilised society. There is no difference between people of different races, each trying to live out their lives in peace. In spite of your youth, deterrent sentences are vital.
"You took from Anthony Walker his most precious possession, that is to say his life and all it held for him.
"He was a young man of enormous promise, lost in a moment. You have damaged forever the lives of those who loved him.
"Further to this, you have destroyed your own lives and affected the lives of all who are dear to you. You have done it to yourselves."
He told Barton: "You crept into the park with evil on your mind and then affected your ambush."
He said although he did not wield the axe, he was jointly responsible for the murder.
'Terrible'
Judge Leveson said: "This was a terrible incident and you played a full part in jointly bringing the ice axe to further your terrifying attack.
He told Taylor he accepted he did not start the confrontation but said that he "quickly allied himself to it".
Anthony was waiting at a bus stop with his cousin and girlfriend when Barton began hurling racist abuse on July 29.
Anthony, a devout Christian, did not retaliate but simply walked on to wait elsewhere.
As they cut across a park, they were ambushed by Barton and Taylor, who had driven ahead to wait for them.
Anthony's cousin and girlfriend escaped but he was attacked by Barton, who struggled to get the better of the powerfully-built basketball fanatic.
When it became clear Anthony was winning the fight, Barton shouted "Get him off me!" and Taylor struck him from behind with the axe - which smashed his skull and embedded in his brain.
Taylor later told his girlfriend that he had to act "because Michael was getting battered".
Anthony's mother, 49-year-old Gee Walker, saw the axe sticking out of his head in hospital and she was at his side when he died five hours later.
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Thats ridiculous.
At times like these, even the death sentence is less. Who is to say that they won't come out after 17 years and do the same? And if they do, they'll get anothet 17. But did we learn from the first lesson? At what cost? Another life? Does it have no value?
I agree with the American form of justice they wouldn't be so cocky then would they!
scum like this deserve only one thing and thats their lives taken away just like their victim........
theres a lot of injustice in this country and thats one reason its going down the pan!!!
Hang them high.
Murderous thugs.
I still cant believe what this pair of evil idiots set out to do. I pity Joey Barton who has to live in the limelight through all of this but that pity does not come close to the pity I feel for the victim of this terrible crime against humanity Anthony and my heart goes out to his family who have held their dignity throughout and actually forgive this pair of scumbags. They are better people than I am because I would have demanded the death penalty for these animals. I also feel shame that 2 people from my race could do this to somebody from another race. I was at the match between City & Liverpool on Saturday and my heart sank when I heard some of the chants of the Liverpool fans that I wont repeat here and I wonder if there will ever come a time when we all realise that there is only 1 race, the human race. I really hope so because if not we will never evolve past this greedy heartless society we live in today where things like this seem commonplace.
R.I.P. Anthony Walker.
Murdered because of the colour of his skin. What a disgusting society we continue to live in. These fools have got their just deserves and my heart goes out to the family of Anthony. He deserved so much more. This is a tragedy and I hope that it is clear to all that something needs to be done to improve race relations in this country NOW.
Exceuse me! why should I as a tax payer have to pay for these individuals bed and board for the next 40 years???
I vote for the death penalty to be brought back for killings of this nature. And as for you humans rights people, did these individuals think about their victims humans rights? why shold they have any rights granted to them?
I suppose when they get released in 8 years time, because of some European Ruling or other, they will have millions spent on them, trying to conceal their identity, like they had to after that other pair of murdering b*****ds that killed little James Bulger were released.
Lets hope that all the big men in the nick get a chnace to have a good time with these two!
I hope that all the boys will have fun with these idiots, he thinks he is a hard man young joey, but he wont be having funwith the Big Boys in prison!
Thoughts and sympathies go to Anthony Walker's family and friends at this difficult time. Someone killed for the colour of thier skin in this day and age? Beyond belief!!!!!! This is reason enough never to even consider voting for a poltical party with racist views. It is time the decent people of the UK got together and said no more! And thats the decent people from all sides of the community!