Guardian
Thursday December 1, 2005
Paul Taylor must serve at least 23 years of his life sentence for murdering the black teenager Anthony Walker with an ice axe, a judge ruled today.
Taylor, 20, and his 17-year-old cousin, Michael Barton, were given mandatory life sentences for murdering the 18-year-old A-level student in Huyton, Merseyside, in July.
This morning, trial judge Mr Justice Leveson ruled on the minimum terms the pair must serve.
He told Preston crown court, sitting in Liverpool, that Barton, the brother of the Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton, must serve a minimum of 17 years and eight months.
Barton was convicted yesterday of the murder. Taylor, who admitted causing the fatal blow, admitted murder before the start of the trial.