BRITAIN: English premiership footballer Joey Barton (22) has urged his brother to give himself up to police investigating the racist murder of black teenager Anthony Walker.
The Manchester City midfielder made a direct appeal yesterday to his younger brother, Michael Barton (18), saying: "You know it is the right thing to do."
Police have launched an international hunt to find Michael Barton and another man, Paul Taylor (20), who are thought to have fled to Europe after teenager Walker was bludgeoned to death with an axe in Huyton, Merseyside last Friday.
In a televised appeal, the footballer called on Michael to come home. "The horrific killing of Anthony Walker has shocked the country. Those responsible for the senseless death of a kind, decent, young man must be brought to justice. My sincere condolences go out to Anthony's family.
"My side of the Barton family are sickened by his death. Although I was not brought up with Michael, I urge him to come forward and give himself up to police.
"Michael, if you have any information about what happened you have to tell the police. You must do this for the Walker family so they can mourn Anthony and because you know it is the right thing to do."
The footballer, originally from Huyton, is not close to his brother and the pair are believed to have been brought up separately after their parents split up.
The police are liaising with Interpol colleagues to trace Michael Barton and Taylor, who are thought to be in the Netherlands or Spain.
Two men aged 26 and 29 are being questioned by police and two men aged 18 and 17 have been released on bail.
As the investigation intensified, tributes continued to pour in for Anthony, who was attacked after being racially abused on Friday evening. Bernard Lawson, assistant chief constable of Merseyside police, said he was pleased with the progress of the investigation so far, but insisted there was no room for complacency. - (PA)