Family of murdered teen slam Joey Barton podcast comments
manchestereveningnews.co.ukThe family of a murdered teenager have hit out at Joey Barton after he described the unprovoked, racially-motivated killing as a 'f*****g scrap.' The former Manchester City footballer turned manager has been accused of 'heaping further pain and suffering' on relatives and friends of Antony Walker and of 'seeming to 'trivialise' the incident following comments about his brother, who was jailed for Mr Walker's murder, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Mr Walker, 18, was walking with his girlfriend and cousin in Merseyside on the evening of July 30, 2005, when he was racially abused as he reached a bus stop by then 17-year-old Michael Barton, Joey's brother, who also threatened to stab him.
Mr Walker's group decided to walk to another bus stop near McGoldrick Park in Huyton. READ MORE: Today's top Manchester Evening News stories READ MORE: Police investigating after 'crack and heroin zone' signs appear in Manchester They were followed in a car by Barton and his cousin, Paul Taylor, who jumped out and ambushed Mr Walker as he reached the park.
Taylor, then 20, drove an ice-axe into Anthony's skull causing fatal brain injuries. Both men were found guilty of murder. Michael Barton was jailed for life with a minimum term of 17 years, but was released on licence in September last year after a Parole Board concluded he had made 'exceptional progress' behind bars.
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