A man was murdered with a metal horseshoe following a row over loud music on a train, a court has heard.

Thomas Parker, 24, died after being hit on the back of the head at Reading station in Berkshire on 30 July last year.

Kirkpatrick Virgo has admitted the attack but denies murdering the golf club greenkeeper.

Jurors heard Mr Parker had been to an Arsenal game with his brother Craig and some friends when Virgo and two others got on and started playing music from a ‘boom box’ speaker.

Craig Parker got into a row with Virgo’s friend who was playing the music but there was no violence, according to prosecutors.

Virgo, 42, is then said to have joined the argument, warning the other group “do you want to die tonight?”

A pair of off-duty police officers tried to calm the situation but Virgo was said to be “looking for trouble” by using a homophobic slur against Craig Parker, Reading Crown Court was told.

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It heard Virgo followed the group when they left the train and hit Thomas Parker on the head with a heavy metallic horseshoe from his backpack.

The attack was caught on CCTV.

“He was intent on doing some serious damage to one or another of the victim’s group,” said prosecutor Tahir Khan KC.

“The defendant followed after Tom Parker and he bought the heavy weapon down on the back of [his] head.

“Tom Parker fell straight to the floor and sadly he did not get back up. He was fatally wounded by a single blow.”

Virgo ran off but was caught by the victim’s brother.

A security guard also intervened and gave CPR to Thomas Parker, who was bleeding heavily, but despite the efforts of emergency services he was pronounced dead shortly after midnight.

The defendant, from Slough, showed little emotion on Monday as the case against him was detailed.

He admits manslaughter and possessing an offensive weapon but denies murder.

The trial continues.

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