Footballer urges brother to tell police about racist murder

PREMIERSHIP footballer Joey Barton yesterday urged his brother to give himself up to police investigating the racist murder of black teenager Anthony Walker.

On television, the Manchester City midfielder made a direct appeal to his younger brother Michael Barton, 18, saying: “You know it is the right thing to do.”

He said: “The horrific killing of Anthony Walker has shocked the country.

“My sincere condolences go out to Anthony’s family.

“Michael, if you have any information about what happened you have to tell the police.”

Police have launched an international manhunt to find Michael Barton and another man, 20-year-old Paul Taylor, who are thought to have fled to continental Europe after the teenager was bludgeoned to death with an axe in Huyton, Merseyside.

The footballer, who is originally from Huyton, is not close to his brother and the pair are believed to have been brought up separately.

Officers are liaising with Interpol colleagues to trace Michael Barton and Taylor, who are thought to be in Holland or Spain.

As the investigation intensified, tributes continued to pour in for Anthony, who was attacked after being racially abused as he walked his white girlfriend to a bus stop on Friday evening.

A flag was lowered to half mast above Liverpool Town Hall in memory of Mr Walker.

Bernard Lawson, Assistant Chief Constable, said: “I’m pleased, in all these sad circumstances, that we are doing our utmost to bring the offenders to justice, but we are not going to be complacent.”