Mother makes appeal over Anthony murder

The mother of murdered black teenager Anthony Walker made an emotional appeal to the public for help in finding her son’s killers.

Gee Walker, 49, was speaking in public for the first time since the 18-year-old’s murder on Friday, at a public vigil in Liverpool.

Mrs Walker told the crowd that she felt sorry for those who had killed her son, but said that they “don’t deserve to walk the streets”.

Anthony was killed on Friday night, while he was out with his girlfriend, who is white and his 17-year-old cousin. They were followed into McGoldrick Park, where a group of up to four men attacked them.

Anthony’s girlfriend and cousin ran to try and get help, but when they came back, they found Anthony slumped on the ground. He had been attacked with an axe and died later in hospital.

Police have arrested four men in connection with the murder. Two teenagers – aged 17 and 18 – and a man aged 29 have been released on bail. A 26-year-old man is still in police custody.

Police are still trying to trace two other men in connection with Anthony’s murder. Michael Barton, 17, brother of Manchester City footballer Joey Barton, and Paul Taylor, 20 are believed to have left the country, possibly heading to Europe.

On Tuesday, Joey Barton appealed for his brother to contact the police. He described the murder as “horrific” and said: “Michael, if you have any information you have to tell the police. You must do this for the Walker family, so they can mourn Anthony and you must do it because you know it is the right thing to do.”

(KMcA/SP)