Mrs. Walker is not the first parent in this situation, but that doesn't make it any easier. Her son, Anthony, a bright student was brutally murdered and left with an axe in his skull.
Anthony, a devout Christian with ambitions to become a lawyer, had spent the evening with his 17-year-old girlfriend at his family's home in Huyton, near Liverpool. As he walked her to a bus stop, with his 17-year-old cousin, they were allegedly taunted and chased before he was attacked.
The murderers were found and the family endured a two week trial.
Mrs Walker, an evangelist and mother-of-six, had insisted on hearing every piece of evidence, even a graphic pathology report. She appeared to buckle only once, fleetingly, when the 3ft axe was held aloft.
In the end, though, her response was grounded in her faith:
Outside the court, Mrs Walker, with her daughter Dominique, who had gone to school with Taylor, said: "Do I forgive them? At the point of death Jesus said 'I forgive them because they don't know what they did'.
"I've got to forgive them. I still forgive them. My family and I still stand by what we believe: forgiveness." She said that she had never been in doubt about the verdict.
"It's been real hard going, but I feel justice has been done. I'm sure they will get the maximum sentence."
She acknowledged that it would be difficult to move on in the aftermath of her son's death, but added: "We have no choice but to live on for Anthony. Each of us will take a piece of him and will carry on his life."
Prayers for this family, and all who suffer violence. What other faith could suffice in times such as these, but the faith in a God Who endured violence Himself in order to wipe our tears away forever. Mother Mary, comfort your children.
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