A racist thug whose innocent teenage victim died after being hit in the head with an axe has won a cut in his sentence after turning into a charity fund raiser behind bars.
Violent gang member, Michael Barton, was just 17 when he murdered blameless black teenager, Anthony Walker, in a park.
Anthony, 18, was minding his own business in McGoldrick Park, Huyton, when he was ambushed and Barton’s cousin, Paul Taylor, 20, drove an ice axe through his skull.
Taylor and Barton, brother of then Manchester City star Joey Barton, who now plays for Burnley, were jailed for life for Anthony’s murder in July 2005.
Barton was ordered to serve at least 18 years by Mr Justice Leveson who described the murder as “racist thuggery of a type that is poisonous to any civilised society”.
But now, more than 10 years on, senior judge, Mr Justice Mitting, has recognised Barton’s “exceptional progress” in jail by slicing a year off his sentence.
Prison, he said, had brought about “a remarkable transformation in his outlook and conduct”.
Anthony Walker was murdered as he walked through a park in Huyton in July 2005
When Barton first entered the prison system, his behaviour was predicably atrocious, London’s High Court heard.
Viewed as a “high risk” prisoner, he was disciplined for fighting, thieving, making a model gun out of matchsticks and possessing illicit hooch.
Psychologists interviewed him and the judge said: “A blunt summary of their views is that he was a racist thug”.
Describing his life as part of a street gang, he said he had fed his thirst for drugs by robbery, burglary and narcotics dealing.
In a moving statement last year, Anthony’s mother, Dr Gee Walker, pleaded with the court not to cut Barton’s sentence.
“Once a thug, always a thug. Prison will not change him, it will only add fuel to the fire”, she said.
However the judge said that, by 2009, a probation officer was describing “a positive change in his attitude”.
Barton now fully accepts his guilt, is “genuinely remorseful” and “understands the devastating and irreplaceable loss” which he had caused Anthony’s family.
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He had completed professional cookery and business development courses in jail and planned to set up in the catering industry on his release.
Barton enjoys “enhanced status”, mentors other prisoners and was described by his supervisor as “The best peer mentor he has ever had”.
Devoting himself to raising funds for charity, Barton had “matured considerably” and his behaviour was viewed as “excellent”.
Mr Justice Mitting said: “All of this material satisfies me that for the last eight years Barton has made good use of the facilities and opportunities available in the prison estate.
“His progress has been exceptional. It could not have been foreseen, except as an unlikely possibility, when he was sentenced.
“His transformation from a racist thug into a sensible, realistic young man satisfies the high threshold for a reduction in his minimum term”.
Barton’s minimum sentence was reduced to 17 years and he will also be given credit for four months he spent on remand prior to sentencing.
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/