A MURDER suspect was an ‘outsider in his own community’ a court heard.

Anthony Wheaton of Dart Close, Finchampstead, stood at Reading Crown Court accused of the murder of ‘Gypsy Gee’ Smith.

On Tuesday, June 5, as the victim’s family packed into the court, Wheaton’s barrister said the accused was an ‘outsider’ in society.

Wheaton is accused of having stabbed Mr Smith, his brother’s cousin, after a family dispute following a night out

Defending, Katherine Jane Lumsdon told the jury: “Mr Wheaton has always said he felt like an outsider in the community of the estate that he lived in.

“He’d been living there for one year, and the Smith family had been there for over 20.

“You may think he feels even more of an outsider in this court, due to the fact that the family of Mr Smith is here, he has the prosecuting team, and he has the police officers here. Mr Wheaton has me, Mr Godfrey, and you.”

At one point Wheaton, who was wearing the same blue Ralph Lauren polo top as he had done for most of the trial, could be seen wiping tears away from his eyes.

The defence for Wheaton is arguing that he killed Mr Smith in self defence, after the amateur boxer ran into his home angrily following a family dispute, leaving Mr Smith’s niece with a bloodied nose - an incident blamed on Wheaton.

Mr Smith suffered six knife wounds, including two stab wounds to the heart, though it is not known the precise point during the confrontation between the two that these wounds were inflicted.

After the incident, Wheaton fled the scene in his Range Rover, where he drove to his mother’s house in Fleet, Reading, before handing himself into police. 

The jury has retired for deliberation.