Two Brit holidaymakers arrested over rape of woman, 19, at villa in Marbella after teen found unconscious in bathroom
TWO British holidaymakers have been arrested on suspicion of raping a teen tourist from the UK at their rented Costa del Sol villa.
The 19-year-old's friends found her unconscious in a bathroom at the property in Marbella.
The alleged sex attack occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning after a group of young Brit women met the men - also from the UK - at a nightclub.
They had agreed to go back to the villa they had rented for their holiday to continue partying.
The women found their friend “unconscious” in the bathroom around 1.30am on Sunday, according to local reports.
She was taken to Marbella’s Costa del Sol Hospital where she underwent a sexual assault forensic examination.
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Tests also took place to see if she had potentially been drugged as part of a new protocol in place on the Costa del Sol.
She is said to have been drinking heavily before being found, and officials have not yet said if they believe her drinks could have been spiked.
One of the suspects, described locally as a 23-year-old UK national, was at the scene of the alleged sex attack.
Another, a 27-year-old male who is also British, was reportedly held hours later at a Marbella nightclub after cops were given a description matching his by the alleged victim.
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A court official said both men had been released on bail after appearing before a judge who was conducting an ongoing investigation.
The official said: “Marbella’s Court of Instruction Number Four agreed on May 27 to provisionally release the two young men arrested on suspicion of a sexual attack on a woman.
“Both the two men and the young woman allegedly sexually attacked are foreigners of the same nationality.
“The judge took the decision at the request of public prosecutors but is still investigating them on suspicion of the sex crime."
They said that both men "who answered the questions that were put to them" are going to have to "sign on at the court on the 1st and 15th of each month".
The official added: “The alleged victim gave a statement under oath as part of a procedure which involves a recording of her testimony with all parties present so that testimony can be subsequently used in a court hearing if the case ends up reaching trial.
“The case will continue to be investigated by Marbella’s Court of Instruction Number Four.”
Although the two suspects have now been placed under formal investigation, charges would not be laid until shortly before any eventual trial as is normal in Spain.
Only trials in Spain, and not the criminal probe that precede them, take place in public.
