Hundreds at vigil for axe victim

Hundreds of people have attended a vigil in memory of murdered black teenager Anthony Walker.
Members of Anthony's close family were among the crowd which gathered at St George's Hall in Liverpool city centre.

Anthony, 18, was attacked with an axe by a gang of white men in what police said was a racially-motivated incident.

Doreen Lawrence, the mother of Stephen Lawrence, who was stabbed to death in a racist attack in London in 1993, visited the scene of Friday's killing.

At the vigil on Tuesday evening, Anthony's mother, Gee, made her first public statement since her son's murder in Huyton, Merseyside.

She said she felt sorry for his attackers, but that they should not be allowed to walk the streets.

I don't know where to start, I didn't come here to say anything," she said.

"When I look at the sea of faces, so many close friends, people I know, I was so overwhelmed I was not sorry that I came here.

"I am receiving letters from people I don't even know - from America, from Canada, phone calls from Ireland, you name it and letters of condolence."

She apologised for wearing sunglasses because of her swollen eyes which drew a round of applause from the 800-strong crowd.

Mrs Walker said: "I don't know how to thank you, I applaud all of you and thank you from my heart, other people have scripts, I have none.

"I have to tell you about Anthony, he was everybody's son.

He is flesh and blood, my little brother, he was only 18

Anthony Walker's older sister, Dominique

"I am sure he is looking down at you all bouncing his basketball."

She said she had placed basketballs and teddy bears sent to her by the public into Anthony's coffin.

"I am sorry for the people that have done it and if you know anyone then come forward, they don't deserve to walk the streets," she said.

Anthony's older sister, Dominique, fought back tears as she issued a public appeal for help in catching her brother's killers

She said: "I just want to say to the people that if anybody knows anything can they speak up.
"This is no joke, he is flesh and blood, my little brother, he was only 18.

"It is not over, you just don't know, you just don't know what you have done."

Earlier, at the scene of Anthony's death, Mrs Lawrence said she hoped his family would have justice.

"I'm only hoping that this time that justice will be done and seen to be done, because Stephen's killers are still walking free and I'm hoping that Anthony's killers will be brought to justice," she said.

"I think he deserved that; his family deserve that."

Footballer's appeal

Earlier on Tuesday, Manchester City footballer Joey Barton appealed for his brother to contact police investigating the murder.

He said: "You must do this because you know it's right."

Eighteen-year-old Michael Barton and Paul Taylor, 20, are wanted for questioning by detectives who think the pair could have left the country.

We are not willing to make any comment or judgment about the people police are questioning in connection with Anthony's death

The Walker family

Joey Barton said the murder was "horrific" and "senseless", adding those responsible "must be brought to justice".

Police said on Tuesday a 29-year-old man arrested in connection with the axe attack had been released on police bail.

A 17-year-old who was also being questioned had earlier been released on police bail.

A 26-year-old man remains in custody.

The Walker family said in a statement they were "helping police as much as we possibly can" and did not want to say "anything that might prejudice the investigation".

"We are not willing to make any comment or judgment about the people police are questioning in connection with Anthony's death or about those people who they would like to trace to help them with the inquiry."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/merseyside/4740095.stm