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A golf club caretaker was killed with a metal horseshoe after his brother objected to music being played too loud on a train, a court says. Kirkpatrick Virgo, 42, is charged with the murder of Thomas Parker, 24, at Reading Station on the night of July 30, 2022. Reading Crown Court heard that the victim was on Elizabeth's line after watching an Arsenal game with her brother Craig and two friends before the defendant and two of his friends boarded and one of them was playing music from a stereo speaker.
The victim's group had been drinking "sort of," jurors were told.
We say that the defendant was upset by the above argument. Intended to cause serious harm to any member of the victim's party.
His brother argued with the Virgo friend who was playing music, but "there was no violence," the court heard.
Virgo later joined the line and told the group of victims 'do you want to die tonight?' the audience said.
Two off-duty police officers tried to keep the peace, but Virgo was said to be "asking for trouble" by calling Craig Parker the homophobic slur "nutty".
The argument appeared to escalate into "actual violence," but the presence of the two officers ensured things did not get out of hand, the court heard.
The two officers divided the groups into different parts of the car, but the defendant's group backed toward the victim's group, showing they had "the intent to continue the confrontation," the jury heard.
An "outburst of violence" in which other passengers could have been caught could have erupted without the officers being present, prosecutors said.
A witness stated that the Virgin was "excited" and had a "threatening air" that left them puzzled.
After the victim's group descended, Virgo followed and pulled a heavy metal horseshoe from her backpack, which struck the victim on the head.
Prosecutor Tahir Khan KC told the jury: 'We are saying that the defendant was upset with the above argument. Intended to cause serious harm to one or both members of the victim's party.
"Defendant followed Tom Parker and purchased the heavy gun to the back of Tom Parker's head.
"Tom Parker fell straight to the ground and unfortunately didn't get up. He was mortally wounded by a single blade.
The attack was caught on CCTV, leading Virgo to have "no choice" but to admit to illegally killing Mr Parker.
The defendant tried to flee but was caught by the victim's brother after a fight.
A station security guard working for G4S intervened and, once realizing what had happened, rushed to give CPR to the victim as she was bleeding profusely from her brain.
Police arrested Virgo on suspicion of manslaughter and then murder.
Despite all the efforts of the emergency services, the victim was pronounced dead at 00:40 on July 31, 2022.
Virgo, who sat on the bench in a blue tracksuit, showed little visible emotion as the case against him was read. Members of Mr. Parker's family were in the public gallery.
The defendant, from Slough, admits to manslaughter and possession of an offensive weapon, but denies murder.
Khan told the jury that Virgo should argue that Parker racially assaulted and spat at him on the station platform, causing him to act "in the heat of the moment".
The prosecutor said it was a "false account".
The trial before Judge Amjad Nawaz continues.
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