The partner of a former Longfield student has appeared at court charged with murder after a German tourist was allegedly punched to death.

Former Axton Chase pupil Gemma Hawkins, 31, was at a restaurant at the Sotogrande resort, on the Costa del Sol in Spain on Sunday when her partner Devinder Kainth allegedly attacked Sandro Rottman.

The 40-year-old is reported to have repeatedly punched Mr Rottman, 43, when he caught him taking photogtaphs of his children on his iPad.

He later died in a hospital as a result of his injuries.

Since the alleged attack, it has emerged Rottman was arrested days before his death for possessing child pornography.

Kainth appeared at court on Monday charged with homicide and remains in custody at a high-security Spanish prison.

The couple are believed to have moved to the resort with their three children a year ago.

The owner of the restaurant, where the attack took place, told MailOnline: "After an afternoon of friendly chatter, the British man suddenly told his family to leave.

"Devinder looked at Sandro’s iPad and found pictures of his family which had been taken earlier that evening. He was shouting: “Why have you taken these?” Suddenly he told his family to get out of the bar.

"Five seconds later he hit Sandro so hard he fell to the floor. I think this knocked him out, or at least dazed him.

"Then Devinder went crazy and started hitting Sandro. He must have hit him at least 20 times in the face and head.

"[Sandro] had blood gurgling from his mouth. He was choking and struggling to breathe. He also had a big lump on the side of his head – no other visible cuts – just this big lump.

"Then he was unconscious like he was in a coma. The waitress started screaming for help. We were all shaking and trembling. When [Devinder] ran out of energy, he calmly got up and walked out the door."

The Foreign Office is aware of the attack.

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