UK: Two cousins who murdered black teenager Anthony Walker in Liverpool were jailed for life yesterday for an attack their trial judge described as "poisonous racist thuggery".
Paul Taylor (20), who smashed an ice axe into the 18-year-old's head after ambushing him in a park in Huyton, Merseyside, was told he will spend at least 23 years and eight months in jail.
Michael Barton (17), the brother of Manchester City footballer Joey Barton, was told he would serve at least 17 years and eight months for the murder.
Sentencing the pair, Mr Justice Leveson said they were guilty of "racist thuggery of a type that is poisonous to any civilised society".
Anthony was waiting at a bus stop with his cousin Marcus Binns and girlfriend Louise Thompson when Barton began hurling racist abuse on July 29th this year.
The pair may have been offended by the sight of a white woman consorting with black men.
The judge said before sentencing: "I have no doubt that these defendants were both party to a joint enterprise which demonstrated hostility towards Anthony Walker and Marcus Binns based on their membership of a racial group, and the association of Louise Thompson with them, as members of that group."
Anthony, a devout Christian, did not retaliate and the three of them simply walked away.
But as they cut across the park, they were ambushed by Barton and Taylor, who had driven ahead to wait for them.
Anthony's cousin and girlfriend escaped but he was attacked by Barton, who struggled to get the better of the powerfully built basketball player.
When it became clear Anthony was winning the fight, Barton shouted "Get him off me!" and Taylor struck him from behind with the axe, which smashed his skull and embedded in his brain.
Anthony's mother, Gee Walker (49), saw the axe sticking out of his head in hospital and she was at his side when he died five hours later.
Taylor, who spent most of the hearing with his head bowed, showed no reaction as he was led from the dock.
Barton showed no reaction but simply nodded to members of his family as he was taken down.
Taylor admitted murder on November 15th. Barton was convicted of murder by a jury on Wednesday.