BRITAIN: The funeral of murdered black teenager Anthony Walker (18) took place yesterday amid a sea of colour. The student was bludgeoned to death with an axe in Huyton, Merseyside, last month, in what seemed to be a racist attack.
Though the funeral took place in a packed Liverpool Cathedral beneath leaden skies and torrential rain, many of the 3,000 guests wore colourful basketball and football shirts after Anthony's family asked that the service be a "joyful thanksgiving" for the talented athlete's life.
Anthony's mother, Gee Walker, wore an Arsenal shirt because her son had been a life-long "Gunners" fan. Liverpool, Everton, Manchester United, England and Brazil colours were also on display in the congregation.
Anthony, a devout born-again Christian, was remembered as a popular and loving boy who took less-confident youngsters under his wing. Pastor Diana Stacey, minister of the Walker family's church, said: "Anthony didn't mind being different, in fact he enjoyed it.
"He had a depth of character that could stand out in a crowd, and his integrity showed that."