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Robber in suit hit students with bottle
Rob Singh, Evening Standard21 May 2008
These pictures show the moment when a smartly dressed man launched a brutal attack on two female medical students on a railway footbridge.
Wearing a suit and tie, Slovenian Marko Kontestabile hit the two 20-year-olds over the head with a bottle as they came back from a shopping trip.
The homeless 21-year-old then walked calmly away with their bags as a member of the public rushed to their aid. Both the women suffered head wounds and one needed stitches.
Kontestabile is facing jail today when he is sentenced at Southwark crown court. The shocking CCTV footage shows him attacking the students at Surbiton station on 10 January.
Detective Sergeant Tony Burman, of the British Transport Police, said: "Kontestabile is seen on CCTV pulling the bottle from his jacket and striking both women over the head and then grabbing their shopping."
Police were called the next day by YMCA staff who saw a man matching the description of the offender using the internet. He had two empty beer bottles in his pockets.
Kontestabile told police he carried the bottles for protection and admitted stealing the shopping bags because he wanted food.
DS Burman said: "This was a particularly violent assault on two young girls. They were watched, followed and then violently assaulted."
Kontestabile has admitted causing actual bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon.
