For the latest from the pitch sign up for our football newsletter
Thank you for subscribing!
For the latest from the pitch sign up for our football newsletter
We have more newsletters
Joey Barton has been slammed for classing the racist murder his brother and cousin were convicted of as "a scrap".
The former Manchester City and Newcastle United midfielder’s half-brother Michael Barton and cousin, Paul Taylor, killed 18-year-old Anthony Walker when he was walking his girlfriend to a bus stop in Merseyside. Anthony, his partner Louise and cousin Marcus Binns were set upon by the pair, after they jumped out of some bushes in a "terrifying ambush" on July 30, 2005.
While Louise and Marcus were able to get away, Anthony was trapped and struck in the head with an ice axe by Taylor, leaving the weapon embedded in his skull. Nearly 18 years after the murder – labelled by a judge as a "poisonous racist attack" – ex-Bristol Rovers manager Barton has caused fury by calling it a "scrap".
READ MORE: Joey Barton sacked as Bristol Rovers manager with club languishing in League One
READ MORE: Andre Onana FT footage shows devastated Man Utd keeper 'even dropping his gloves'
A video montage promoting a new podcast appearance by Barton, including a snippet of the 41-year-old talking about the murder, has now gone viral on social media.
He can be heard saying to the James English podcast: “My brother lost 17 years of his life from 17, because his mate, who was his cousin at the time, thought it would be a fantastic idea, when they were having a f***ing scrap, to pull an ice axe out and swing it into somebody and it stuck in his head.”
What is your reaction to Joey Barton's comments? Let us know in the comment section below
At the time of writing, the montage has been viewed more than 1.3million times on X. One furious person commented: “‘Lost 17 years of his life’ Rightly so for being a racist murderer. It should have been a lot longer. Anthony Walker lost his whole life.”
Another added: “His brother didn't 'lose' 17 years. He was convicted of an unprovoked, pre-planned racially-aggravated murder after stalking an 18-year-old and killing him simply because he was black. He then fled to Amsterdam to try and avoid being caught.” And a third remarked: "Just a casual reframe of the racist murder of an 18-year-old lad to plug a podcast."
On the day of the murder, Michael Barton, who was wearing a hooded top with a scarf or ski mask covering his face, began hurling racist abuse at Anthony and Marcus, telling them “walk n***** walk”, as they made their way along a street in Huyton.
He and Taylor then followed the group, drove to the entrance of McGoldrick Park, hid in the bushes and then ambushed the three of them.
Taylor drove the ice axe 6cm into Anthony’s skull. The A-level student died at Walton neurological centre at 5.25am, but it’s understood he would have been effectively brain dead within seconds of the blow being struck.
When police named them as suspects, Barton appealed for his brother and cousin to return to the UK and turn themselves in, which they eventually did, before they were convicted of murder following a trial that year.
In September 2022, Michael Barton was set free after 17 years in prison while Taylor, who was handed a minimum sentence of 23 years and eight months, remains behind bars.
Daily Star Sport has reached out to the Anthony Walker Foundation for comment.
- Premier League
- Newcastle United FC
- Manchester City FC
Source: Read Full Article