A MAN who died after an ‘attack’ at Reading Train Station was hit by a metallic horseshoe, a murder trial has heard.

Thomas Parker, 24, died on platform eight just before midnight on July 30 last year.

Kirkpatrick Virgo, of Whitby Road, Slough, admitted manslaughter and possession of an offensive weapon during an appearance in court on November 18 last year.

READ MORE: Headteacher refuses entry to Ofsted after death of Caversham principal

However, the 42-year-old pleaded not guilty to murder is currently on trial at Reading Crown Court.

Prosecuting, Tahir Khan said that Mr Parker had been travelling back from watching an Arsenal football game with his brother, Craig, and their two friends when the incident happened.

They were on the train when the defendant and two friends got on the train at Slough with one of Virgo’s friends carrying a boombox playing music.

Mr Khan said: “Thomas Parker’s brother Craig remonstrated with the person playing loud music. There was an argument.

“At one point the defendant joined in [on the argument] and said words to the effect of ‘do you want to die tonight?’

READ MORE: Speeding driver fined at SEVEN miles over limit on M25

“When the train pulled into Reading, the defendant pulled out a heavy metallic horseshow from his rucksack.

“We say the defendant was upset about the previous argument and was intent on doing some serious damage.

“The defendant followed after Thomas Parker and brought the heavy metallic weapon down on Thomas Parker’s head.

“Thomas Parker fell onto the floor and sadly never got up. He was wounded by a single blow the defendant delivered and the defendant then ran away.”

The court that Mr Parker’s brother, Craig, chased after Virgo and caught him in a ‘bear hug’ until the station’s security staff pulled the pair apart.

Police arrived soon after and arrested Virgo who told officers that there had been an argument and claimed someone had called him a ‘black c***’.

Emergency services tended to Mr Parker who was sadly pronounced dead at 12.40am on July 31, 2022.

A pathology report noted that he had bruising on the left side of the back of his head from a ‘blunt impact’.

READ MORE: Prison guard convicted for relationship with prisoner who is now ON THE RUN

It added that the injury caused bleeding into the space around the brain and ‘death followed soon after’.

Upon hearing that Mr Parker had passed away, Virgo continued to ask officers to remove his handcuffs and suggested they should have been arrested Thomas Parker’s brother, Craig, instead.

The trial, which is expected to see the jury retire on Wednesday next week, continues.