FACE TO FACE WITH THE AXE ACCUSED; Anthony mum in court as two charged with murder.

Byline: By BRENDON WILLIAMS

THE mother of murdered teenager Anthony Walker yesterday came face to face with her son's alleged killers across a packed courtroom.

Anthony, 18, died after being attacked with an axe in a park.

Gee Walker, 49, held hands with relatives and appeared calm as she sat feet from where Michael Barton, 17 and Paul Taylor, 20, stood accused of her son's killing.

Flanked by daughter Donna, niece Bev Okoro and two male relatives she looked straight at the dock and heard the defendants mumble their personal details from behind the safety glass.

Crop-haired Barton, brother of Manchester City soccer star Joey Barton, and shaven headed Taylor, his cousin, both from Huyton, Liverpool, bowed their heads throughout the five minute hearing.

They are accused of murdering talented basketball player Anthony in the early hours of July 30 and conspiring to cause him grievous bodily harm.

Both were flanked by a male guard at each end of the dock and female guard between them.

Their solicitors confirmed there would be no application for bail. District Judge Khalid Qureshi remanded them in custody until August 23 when they will appear at Liverpool crown court.

Anthony's mother arrived at court wearing the sunglasses she has used to hide her tears since her son's death.

She said she realised her son was dead when she could no longer hear him playing with his basketball at their home.

She said: "Last Saturday, for the first time, there was no bouncing sound.

"I was pleading to hear it but it was all quiet. That's when I really knew he was gone."

She stayed for about 20 minutes after the hearing. The family were driven away in a black Mercedes. Anthony's father Steve, 53, later described seeing his son on life support.

He said: "I went straight to his bedside and took hold of Anthony's hand."

He spoke to him and was thinking: "How dare they do this to my boy? I don't know whether he could hear anything."

Shortly after the family left court the defendants were taken away in a police van.

Around 20 angry people gathered nearby, some shouting "murdering scum" and "bastards". Anthony was a devout Catholic and promising student who wanted to be a lawyer.

Tributes were still being left near the park where he died. His family attended a candle-lit vigil and service last night.

Mourners sang Amazing Grace as they walked from St Gabriel's Church, Huyton, to the park.

Officers investigating Anthony's murder have arrested five other Huyton men, aged 17 to 29. They were all bailed.

CAPTION(S):

PAIN: Gee Walker, centre, arrives at court. Accused are driven away, right; VIGIL: Mourners carry candles through Huyton streets last night. Left, Anthony