Racist killers get life for 'poisonous' attack

Two racist thugs who murdered black teenager Anthony Walker were jailed for life today for what their trial judge described a “poisonous” attack.

Paul Taylor, 20, who smashed an ice axe into the 18-year-old’s head after ambushing him in a park in Huyton, Merseyside, in July, was told he will spend at least 23 years and eight months in jail.

His cousin Michael Barton, 17, Premiership footballer Joey Barton’s brother, was told he would serve at least 17 years and eight months for the murder.

Sentencing the pair, Mr Justice Leveson told Taylor and Barton: “This was a racist attack of a type poisonous to any civilised society.

The judge said: “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.

Passing sentence on Barton, the judge said: “You crept into the park with evil on your mind and then affected your ambush.”

Taylor showed no reaction as he was led from the dock.

Barton also showed no reaction but simply nodded to members of his family as he was taken down.

The Walker family remained silent while sentence was passed.

Mr Justice Leveson told the pair: “After Anthony Walker and (his cousin) Marcus Binns had been taunted, for some reason which I am sure was related to the colour of their skin, you both appear to have been affronted by their presence on the street and determined to follow them by car, to wait for them and to waylay them in a terrifying ambush.”

Taylor admitted murder on November 15 and was sentenced at Preston Crown Court, sitting in Liverpool, today.

Barton was convicted of Anthony’s murder by a jury yesterday.