Where is Michael Barton now? Convicted murderer of Anthony Walker
MICHAEL Barton is known for the murder of 18 year old Anthony Walker that rocked the nation back in 2005.
As BBC feature film Anthony airs TONIGHT (July 27), we take a look at the man who is responsible for the murder of the teenager.
Who is Michael Barton?
Michael Barton, 32, is the younger brother of ex footballer Joey Barton.
The brothers were brought up in Huyton, Merseyside.
Who was Anthony Walker and what happened?
Barton along with his cousin Paul Taylor struck down Anthony Walker in an unprovoked racist attack.
On July 29, 2005, Barton hurled racist abuse at Anthony, who was walking past a pub on the way to the bus stop with his cousin Marcus Binns and girlfriend Louise Thompson around 11pm..
Barton and Taylor then decided to ambush the trio in McGoldrick Park and while Marcus and Louise managed to get away, Taylor drove an ice axe into Anthony's head.
Anthony was unable to recover and unfortunately died from his wound in the early hours of July 30.
Anthony Walker was born on February 21, 1987, in Merseyside.
Walker was eighteen years old and in his second year of A-levels at the time of his death. He dreamed of one day becoming a lawyer.
Walker lived with his parents, Gee and Steve Walker, his two sisters and one brother.
Where is Michael Barton now?
Barton and Taylor have both been jailed for life for the murder of Anthony Walker, but not before they escaped the country.
No more than seven hours after the attack, the pair drove the 300 miles to Dover in time to catch a 6am ferry to Calais and then drove to Amsterdam.
On August 2, 2005, Michael's brother Joey pleaded for the pair to come home and turn themselves in.
The following day, Barton and Taylor arrived into Liverpool John Lennon airport on the 6.20pm flight from Amsterdam.
At their trial Taylor pleaded guilty to the murder while Michael Barton denied the charge of murder, but the jury came to a unanimous guilty verdict.
Barton was sentenced to 17 years and eight months
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What time is Anthony on TV?
Anthony airs TONIGHT (July 27) on BBC One at 8pm.
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Multi-Bafta winner Jimmy McGovern developed a one-off drama about the life and unfulfilled dreams of Anthony Walker.
The programme will depict what Anthony’s life was and could have been, and was inspired by McGovern’s conversations with Anthony's mother Gee Walker, who spoke about her son’s “potentials and the many lives he would have impacted”.