A man killed his father after they had a trivial argument about charging his mobile phone, a court heard today.

Patrick Murphy inflicted fatal wounds with a knife on his father Joe and then stabbed his brother Mark, 34, as he tried to intervene, it was alleged.

Murphy also threatened his mother Sandra after stabbing his father: “Step back, or else you’re going to get it. I am going to finish him off.”

Murphy, 30, denies murdering his father, who was 54, at the family home in Hectorage Road, Tonbridge on May 19 last year.

He also denies wounding his brother with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and having an offensive weapon.

Prosecutor Philip Bennetts QC told a jury at Maidstone Crown Court Murphy had shortly before the stabbings bought the knife that inflicted the wounds at Sainsbury’s in the town.

He had also drunk three cans of strong Special Brew lager he bought from an off licence.

Mark Murphy was taken to King’s College Hospital in London and treated for wounds to his chest, right arm and hand.

A woman living next door agreed with a suggestion by Murphy’s QC James Turner that they were "neighbours from hell".

The jury of seven men and five women was told after the argument about charging his phone Murphy stormed out and went to Cash Converters and sold his phone for £20.

He was shown on CCTV footage at the High Street shop just after 5pm. He then went to the Wine Library off licence and bought four cans of Special Brew.

While doing so, another customer asked him: "Is life that bad having to have such a strong beer?"

He replied: "You don’t know the half of it. I need to drown my sorrows."

Murphy went to B&Q in Cannon Lane but left after looking at knives there. He went on to Sainsburys in Angel Lane and bought a pack of three knives.

"You deserve this - and this is what you’re getting" - What Patrick Murphy allegedly told his father

As he left the store, he pulled the largest knife out of the packaging and returned home at 7.12pm. The attack then happened, said Mr Bennetts.

As he walked in the door he asked his mother: “Where is he?” Asked who, he replied: “My father.” Mrs Murphy said: “You know where he is.”

He was sitting in the lounge. Murphy pushed past her, holding the knife behind his back. His father told him: “Please put the knife away, you don’t need the knife.”

Murphy responded: “No, I do need the knife see you you fat ----. I done your car five years ago. I’m going to do you now.”

Mr Bennetts said Murphy stabbed his father saying: “You deserve this - and this is what you’re getting.”

The father went into the garden. Mark followed and stood between his father and brother. He tried to take the knife from him.

He stabbed his brother in the right arm and told him: “I’ve been waiting to do that to you.”

Mrs Murphy called the police.

Paramedics also attended and despite efforts to save him, Joe Murphy was pronounced dead at 8.19pm. He died from the blade severing an artery in his left arm.

When arrested in Hectorage Road, Murphy said: “I know why you’re here.”

He added: “It’s all their fault. This hasn’t been going on for a couple of days. It’s been since July. I’m normally a laid back guy.

“This is a 30-year feud. I did it. I’m not going to kick off or cause you trouble.”

On the way to Tonbridge police station he said: “It’s a 40-year feud. I’ll be calm now. I’ve done criminal damage before but this will be 10 years.

“I’ve had a few cans to get my courage up. I’ve got two charges, GBH and attempt murder. It’s just to teach them a lesson. I’ll go guilty... I’ve had enough.”

Mr Bennetts said Murphy was expected to claim he did not intend to kill his father or cause him really serious harm, or that he was acting in self-defence.

Alternatives were a loss of self-control and diminished responsibility while suffering from “an abnormality of mental functioning”, which were a partial defence and could reduce murder to manslaughter.

He also claimed self-defence in respect of the wounds to his brother.

The trial continues on Monday.