Man who killed golf greenkeeper by hitting him on head with horseshoe guilty of murder

29 March 2023, 19:56

Kirkpatrick Virgo faces life in jail after being found guilty of murder
Kirkpatrick Virgo faces life in jail after being found guilty of murder. Picture: British Transport Police
Kieran Kelly

By Kieran Kelly

A man who killed a golf greenkeeper by hitting him over the head with a horseshoe following a row over loud music has been found guilty of murder.

Kirkpatrick Virgo, 42, has been found guilty of murdering Thomas Parker, 24, outside Reading train station in July last year.

Just minutes before murdering him, Virgo asked Mr Parker "do you want to die tonight?", following a row over loud music playing on a train.

Virgo, from Slough, had admitted to manslaughter and carrying an offensive weapon, but denied murdering Mr Parker.

Thomas Parker
Thomas Parker. Picture: British Transport Police
Thomas Parker was killed with a horseshoe
Thomas Parker was killed with a horseshoe. Picture: British Transport Police

A row erupted on a train on July 30 last year when Mr Parker's brother Craig told one of Virgo's friends to turn down his music.

After the altercation was ended by off-duty police officers on the train, Virgo then followed the two brothers as the train completed its journey in Reading.

Giving evidence, Mr Parker's brother told the court he felt ill after drinking a McDonald's milkshake on the train so he went to be sick.

Kirkpatrick Virgo
Kirkpatrick Virgo. Picture: British Transport Police

"Once I vomited I felt Tom looking over me, making sure I was all right," Mr Parker said. 

"Then it happened, so quickly, Tom was on the floor in front of me."

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Virgo followed the brothers, took out a metallic horseshoe from his bag, before hitting Thomas Parker over the head, the court heard.

"I was in a bear hug, grappling, just holding (him), I did not want to let him go,' Craig Parker added. 

Thomas Parker was pronounced dead at 12.40am.

Virgo will be sentenced on Friday.