Racist Murder of Anthony Walker 29 th July

“Racist Murder of Anthony Walker” 29 th July 2005

The Attack • 11. 00 p. m. , Friday, 29 th July, 2005 • Anthony Walker, Louise Thompson (girlfriend), Marcus Binns (cousin) • Racist taunts outside Huyton Park Pub • Peugeot (? ) car • Ambush Mc. Goldrick Park and blow to head with ice axe • 5. 25 a. m. , (Saturday, 30 th July, 2005) Anthony dies in hospital

Initial Police Response • • Attendance • Initial witness interviews/statements • Initial C. C. T. V. enquiries • Initial house-to-house • Support to family • Contact S. I. O. Secure and preserve scene (scene one – park)

Further Considerations • Declare racist incident (policy file – page one) • Huyton Park Pub • A. C. P. O. • Community Relations • M. I. R. • Intelligence Cell • Press Officer

Community • Gold Group • Independent Advisors • B. P. A. • Community Impact Assessment (Area) • H. V. P. • Critical Review • Media

Media • International interest (Sky) • Early conference (A. C. P. O. /S. I. O. ) • Publicly declare racist • Key messages • Reassurance • Appeals

Family • • F. L. O. s A. C. P. O. /S. I. O. visit 24 hour availability (F. L. O. s/S. I. O. ) Involve, listen, act Other support (Independent Advisors, B. P. A. , S. A. M. M. , Religious etc. ) Media – Press Officer ‘Just catch whoever did it’

Suspects • Investigation ongoing • Barton/Taylor and others emerging (information and enquiries) • Pub (I. D. witnesses/suspects and S. O. C. O. – pub sign) • Warrants, search and seize • Arrest of suspects • No trace Barton or Taylor (Holland? )

Family Appeal • Intensive media interest • Home besieged • Press Officer • Support investigation/breathing space for family • Moving appeal

Outstanding Suspects • Wanted circulations (Barton, Taylor and others) • Ports/Manifests • C. C. T. V. enquiries • Telephone enquiries • Intelligence sources

Tracing Suspects • Vauxhall Vectra identified • A. N. P. R. • Dover Ferry (6 a. m. , 30 th July, 2005) • Enquiry Officers to Dover • Suspects named

Suspects Named “Merseyside Police would like to speak to two men, Paul Taylor, aged 20 years, and Michael Barton, aged 18 years, both from Huyton, whom they believe could assist with the ongoing investigation into the death of Anthony Walker. Detectives believe the two men could have travelled abroad. ”

Suspects Named Cont’d… • Media had identified suspects • Release names? (liaise C. P. S. ) • Do not suggest guilty/no photos (I. D. issues) • Return from abroad • Arrests

The Law • Murder A person is guilty of murder if he does an act that is; - • - unlawful • - causes or contributes to the death of another • - is done with the intention of killing or causing grievous bodily harm

CPS Code • Code for Crown Prosecutors • Evidence- sufficient to afford a realistic prospect of a conviction • Public Interest • Charging – Criminal Justice Act 2003

Timeline • Friday, 29/07/05 - Attack • Saturday - Anthony dies • Sunday - Family’s appeal/first arrests • Monday - Barton and Taylor named • Tuesday - Joey Barton appeal • Wednesday - Return from Holland arrest • Thursday - Interview and charge • Friday, 05/08/05 - Court

Preparation for Trial • File preparation with C. P. S. /Counsel • Venue for trial (22 nd September, 2005, Royal Courts of Justice Hearing) • Disclosure • Evidence from abroad

Preparation for Trial Cont’d. . • Forensic (joint examinations) • Presentation of evidence (graphics etc. ) • C. C. T. V. enhancement • Video compilations • Bad character (including offences earlier in the day) • Racism (including letters/pub sign)

Preparation for Trial Cont’d. . • Security family and witnesses • Court familiarisation • Media – pre-trial interviews and briefings • Provisions for reporters at Court (Department of Constitutional Affairs)

Trial • 14 th November, 2005 – Preston Crown Court (Jury) • 15 th November, 2005 – Liverpool Crown Court (for Trial) • Taylor – change of plea (G. P. Murder in presence of Jury/G. P. Conspiracy to cause GBH without Jury) • 16 th November, 2005 – Trial v Barton

Trial Cont’d. . • Re-consider presentation of case (loss of evidence Taylor) • Barton changes account (blames Taylor) • Knowledge and foresight • Bad character • Hearsay

Trial Cont’d. . • • Pub sign • Pathologist’s evidence (blow from above and behind) Replica axes (metal/wooden)

Prosecuting Counsel • “This trial has at the same time, both everything and nothing to do with colour. It has everything to do with colour because…there can be no doubt that Anthony Walker was killed because he was black. The colour of Anthony Walker’s skin is, we suggest an important factor in this case because it will help you to understand why he died and who was responsible for his death. ”

Prosecuting Counsel • “On the other hand, this trial has nothing to do with colour because justice, and by that I mean your verdict, must be colour blind…. . ”

Prosecuting Counsel • “The chain of events that led to the murder of Anthony Walker…. was set in motion by Michael Barton and in particular, by the racist abuse that he directed towards Anthony Walker and Marcus Bins from the car park of the Huyton Park PH. Put it another way, it was Michael Barton’s fight. He started it and, with the assistance of Paul Taylor, he finished it minutes later…In those circumstances justice demands that he should share with Paul Taylor responsibility for the death of Anthony Walker. ”

Verdict & Sentence • Guilty of Murder – unanimous • Judge to decide upon racism/premeditation • Provisional view re. Barton from trial evidence • Newton Hearing re. Taylor • Impact on sentence

Verdict & Sentence Cont’d… • Judge satisfied racist attack • Premeditated (not long-term plan but formed in car) Taylor minimum 24 years/Barton minimum 18 years • • “Racist thuggery of a type that is poisonous to any civilised society” (Honourable Mr. Justice Leveson)

Timeline • 30/07/05 - Anthony died • 03/08/05 - Arrest of Barton and Taylor • 05/08/05 - Huyton Magistrates’ Court • 22/09/05 - Royal Courts of Justice (hearing re. venue) • 17/10/05 - Plea and Case Management Hearing • 14/11/05 - Preston Crown Court (Jury) • 15/11/05 - Liverpool Crown Court (Trial) • 30/11/05 - Verdict

Aftermath • Graffiti at scene • Media • Other Offences (conspiracy to pervert x 1; assisting x 2; previous assault x 1 ‑ caution; racist e-mails x 1) • Court of Appeal – Taylor (sentence) • Impact on society

Reflections (Investigation) • Declare racist • Family – support, involve, listen, act • Investigate other offences/incidents • Community – support/reassurance/confidence (Gold) • Support groups (e. g. I. A. G. , B. P. A. , Religious, Community, Politicians, S. A. M. M. , etc. ) • Work with media (early involvement with Press Office) • Timely appeals (including e. g. football stadia)

Reflections (Prosecution) • • Prosecution Partnership Approach Police SIO / CPS Lawyer to attend key briefings during the investigation and to make the charging decision in all cases of sensitivity CPS Prosecutor to listen to downstream monitoring / or to be present to advise / brief interviewing officers where the content of the interviews will be important to building the case

Reflections (Prosecution) • Keeping the family of the deceased informed of the progress of the investigation / prosecution including a pre–trial briefing • Community Engagement • Media Strategy • Counsel

Anthony Delano Walker 21. 02. 1987 – 30. 07. 2005 “a young man of enormous promise being lost forever” – Mr Justice Leveson

“Racist Murder of Anthony Walker” 29 th July 2005