AN electrician on board the luxury Southampton-based Queen Mary 2 cruise liner yesterday pleaded guilty to the murder of a fellow crew member by beating him with a hammer.

Rodolfo Juanga, 48, admitted at Winchester Crown Court killing 39-year-old Joel Tagaan in the crew canteen on board the ship on May 12 this year.

Mr Tagaan died after being repeatedly hit with a hammer in the attack which happened as he was eating a meal. No passengers witnessed the incident.

Both men are Filipino nationals who worked as assistant electricians on board the ship, contracted to work for owners Cunard.

The ship was at the time sailing in international waters in the North Sea about 70 miles from the coast of Holland.

Following the attack, Mr Tagaan received emergency treatment from the ship's medical staff but his injuries proved too severe and he was pronounced dead on arrival at Groningen, Holland, after being airlifted to hospital by the Royal Dutch Air Force.

Juanga was detained by the ship's security staff and a team of four detectives and three crime scene investigators from Hampshire Constabulary, who had jurisdiction because the ship is registered in Southampton, were flown out to meet the ship.

Upon docking in Southampton on May 15, Juanga was taken into custody in Southampton, where he was interviewed and charged with murder on the high seas.

Detective Inspector Nigel Niven, who led the inquiry, said: "This has been a complex and unusual investigation.

"All murders are tragic. The victims' families are always emotionally destroyed. In this particular case the ramifications of this murder are even more tragic.

"Mr Tagaan's hard-earned wages paid to educate his two young children, afforded a reasonable standard of living in a very poor environment for his family in the Philippines, and provided life-saving drugs for his elderly parents.

"Without his wages, I feel a sense of despair for their future."

Juanga was remanded in custody by Judge Michael Brodrick to be sentenced on September 22.

The lengthy adjournment was arranged to provide enough time for the victim's wife to fly to the UK to give a statement to the judge under the Victims' Advocate Scheme.