Jail for killer of Thomas Harrison

Feb 12 2008

THE brothers of a man who murdered black teenager Anthony Walker in a racist attack were jailed yesterday for their part in another murder.

Kevin Keegan Corke, 32, stabbed father-of-one Tommy Harrison to death on a street in Huyton after a fight at an 18th birthday party.

His half-brother, Carl Taylor, 21, “encouraged” the attack and stopped the victim escaping, Preston Crown Court heard.

Both are the brothers of Paul Taylor, 17, convicted along with Michael Barton of the murder of Anthony Walker in Huyton in July 2005. Both were jailed for life for killing Anthony, 18, with an ice pick.

Corke was jailed for life yesterday with a minimum sentence of 14 years before parole after plead-ing guilty to murder. Carl Taylor was jailed for five years after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

Mr Harrison’s family shouted their disgust at the sentences and stormed out of court. Security guards had to intervene between them and the family of the defendants.

The court heard that on August 5 last year Corke and the victim were at an 18th birthday party at the St Agnes Social Club on the St John’s Estate in Huyton when a fist fight erupted between the pair, who were “close friends”. Both had been drinking and snorting cocaine. Harrison knocked Corke out cold.

“Kevin Corke was humiliated and sought revenge,” said prosecu- ter John McDermott QC.

As Mr Harrison walked home with friends, Corke and Taylor appeared, the older man now armed with a knife. Harrison asked Corke: “What are you going to do, stab me or something?” Corke then “immediately went into attack mode,” said Mr McDermott.

“Corke attacked with the knife and Taylor lent his assistance.”

Mr Harrison was stabb- ed five times, once in the heart which proved fatal.

“The knife passed through his heart and the penetration of that wound was said to be eight or nine inches.”

Harrison said: “I can’t believe you have just stabbed me!” Mr Mc- Dermott added: “Tommy Harrison staggered before he collapsed. He was bleeding heavily from his chest and clearly very seriously injured.”

He was rushed to Whiston Hospital by ambulance but was dead on arrival.

Both Corke and Taylor, who have long criminal records stretching back to their early teens, fled in a car stolen by Michael Farrell, 21, also from Huyton.

The car was burned out the next day to destroy evidence. Farrell was jailed for 18 months for vehicle theft and perverting the course of justice by Judge Caroline Swift.

Corke and Taylor gave themselves up 11 days later.

Patrick Cosgrove QC, defending Corke, said he had not gone to arm himself with the knife - but carried one “habitually” for self protection as was normal practice in Huyton, Merseyside.

“Sadly the culture of this area is one of carrying knives,” Mr Cosgrove said.

“Some members of his family, for reasons you may be aware, were very unpopular on that estate and were getting attacked. Each member is closely identified to each by others, and all do seem to visit the sins of one on them all. It is that sort of place.”