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Hate Crime

Hate crime is any criminal offence committed against a person or property that is motivated by hostility towards someone based on their disability, race, religion, gender identity or sexual orientation:

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Prosecuting Homicide

Murder and manslaughter are two of the offences that constitute homicide.

Manslaughter can be committed in one of three ways:

  1. killing with the intent for murder but where there is provocation, diminished responsibility or a suicide pact.
  2. conduct that was grossly negligent given the risk of death, and resulted in death.
  3. conduct, taking the form of an unlawful act involving a danger of some harm, that caused death.

With some exceptions, the crime of murder is committed, where a person:

  • of sound mind and discretion (i.e. sane):
  • unlawfully kills (i.e. not self-defence or other justified killing)
  • any reasonable creature (human being)
  • in being (born alive and breathing through its own lungs)
  • under the Queen's Peace
  • with intent to kill or cause grievous bodily harm.

There are other specific homicide offences, for example, infanticide, causing death by dangerous driving, and corporate manslaughter.

Find out more about prosecuting homicide

Home » News Centre » Press Releases » Merseyside Chief Crown Prosecutor condemns racist murder of Anthony Walker

Merseyside Chief Crown Prosecutor condemns racist murder of Anthony Walker

30/11/2005

Anthony Walker's life was taken by a callous and premeditated act of hate, said Paul Whittaker, Chief Crown Prosecutor for Merseyside.

Mr Whittaker said: "Michael Barton and Paul Taylor followed and then attacked Anthony his girlfriend and brother simply because he was black. The horrendous nature of their attack on Anthony was made worse by the fact that this was an unprovoked racist attack."

Teenager Michael Barton was found guilty of the murder by a jury after pleading not guilty. His friend Paul Taylor changed his plea to guilty on the first day the pair were due to stand trial. Although he pleaded guilty, Paul Taylor denied a racist motive for the attack, but after hearing legal argument, the judge decided the murder was racially motivated.

Mr Whittaker said: "Merseyside's response to this tragic event, seen in the tributes for Anthony and support given to the investigation and prosecution, illustrate the community's disgust at racist crime.

"The response of the people of Merseyside has been overwhelming, their support and their show of solidarty that has been so evident over the last few months.

"Crime affects not only the victim and the victim's family, but the whole community; the same is true when tackling crime. Crime has to be tackled together: every piece of information received, every witness that comes forward, helps fight crime.

"With our recently introduced Witness Care Units the police and CPS are improving the service given to victims and witnesses and together we can ensure that crime is not tolerated in our society."

For further details contact CPS Press Office on 020 7796 8079.