A vicious thug who punched a stranger to death with a horseshoe after an argument on-board a train has been found guilty of murder.
Thomas Parker, 24, was hit with the object at Reading station on his way home from a football match between Arsenal and Sevilla.
Kirkpatrick Virgo was arrested by British Transport Police and found guilty of murder this afternoon (Wednesday) after a jury heard he threateningly asked Mr Parker, "do you want to die?".
Virgo, 42, was also convicted of possession of an offensive weapon following a two-week trial at Reading Crown court.
Mr Parker had boarded the Elizabeth Line train at London Paddington on July 30 last year after attending the match at the Emirates Stadium earlier that evening.
CCTV showed Virgo board the same train with two friends at Slough carrying a boombox, with witnesses who were on board saying they were playing loud music.
Mr Parker's brother had asked the three to turn the music down at some point on the journey, prompting Virgo to become aggressive.
The two groups got into an argument, the court heard, before Virgo menacingly turned to Thomas asking, "do you want to die tonight?".
When the train arrived in Reading, both groups departed and CCTV showed Virgo reaching into his bag and pull out a metal horseshoe.
A second argument broke out on the station platform, when Virgo used the heavy metal object to strike Mr Parker to the back of his head after he turned to walk away.
The 24-year-old victim, who family described as "loving and funny", fell to the ground as his brother chased the perpetrator through the station, catching him on the concourse and tackling him to the floor.
Police and ambulance workers rushed to the scene after station staff alerted emergency services, with Virgo arrested a short while later.
Meanwhile paramedics performed CPR on Thomas but, despite their best efforts, he sadly died from his injuries an hour after being punched.
DCI Paul Langley, senior investigating officer in the case, said: “This was a senseless act of violence that stemmed from a minor argument relating to Virgo and his friends playing loud music on a train.
“Tom Parker was travelling home from an Arsenal FC fixture in London with his brother and friends.
"He was a young man with his whole life ahead of him. But that life was taken away by an extremely violent individual who fatally struck him following a disagreement at Reading station.
“Thanks to a single shocking act of violence by Kirkpatrick Virgo, Tom’s family now face the rest of their lives without their brother, son and friend.
“We’re pleased that justice has been served today. My thoughts, and the thoughts of my team, remain with Tom’s family.
"While no verdict will ever be justice enough for them, I hope they can take some small comfort in the fact that this violent individual will spend a lengthy period of his life behind bars.”
Virgo was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on Friday.
