Racist axe killer of Anthony Walker moved to open prison and is months away from freedom

THE racist killer of teenager Anthony Walker is just months away from freedom after being moved to an open prison.

Michael Barton — brother of former Man City and QPR footballer Joey — was jailed for 18 years in 2006 for his role in the sickening ice axe murder of Anthony, 18.

But he has taken his first steps to release after a switch to HMP Thorn Cross, in Cheshire.

It is thought the killer, 33, could be freed this summer.

A source said: “Depending on his behaviour, Barton will be out by August.”

Barton, then 17, and his cousin Paul Taylor, then 20, racially abused black A-level student Anthony before launching the sickening attack in a Liverpool park in 2005.

At sentencing, Barton was told he was “poisonous to any civilised society”.

In 2016 he had a year cut from his time, leaving Anthony’s mum, Dr Gee Walker, feeling “betrayed”.

Yet Dr Walker has said: “Our justice system is the laughing stock of the world. Life definitely doesn’t mean life.

“But I choose to forgive because living a life of hate is so destructive.”