Anthony Walker’s murder: Racism 'has no place in society'

The conviction of two cousins for the murder of black teenager Anthony Walker shows racism has no place in society, Merseyside's police chief has said. Chief Constable Bernard Hogan-Howe talks about the case in a monthly webcast on the police website.

He praised the Walker family's "dignity and calm" but said the brutal murder had "united the people of Merseyside". Michael Barton and Paul Taylor were jailed for the murder, which took place in Huyton in July, on Thursday. Michael Barton, 17, of Boundary Road, Huyton, was found guilty of his murder and will serve a minimum of 17 years and eight months.

Paul Taylor, 20, of Elizabeth Road, Huyton, admitted murder and must serve at least 23 years and eight months. At Preston Crown Court, sitting in Liverpool, Mr Justice Leveson told the pair this was "a racist attack of a type poisonous to any civilised society."

Anthony's mother Gee Walker said she accepted the sentence and hoped Taylor and Barton would use their time behind bars to "reflect on what they've done". Mr Hogan-Howe said in his video he was horrified by the what happened to Anthony, who was "a caring and devout Christian who had aspirations to become a lawyer with everything to live for".

He said he was proud of the work done by the force to convict Anthony's killers. "It only goes to underline the fact that Merseyside Police is committed to investigating racially motivated crime, reports the AP. I.L.