Shoe mark 'left on victim's face'

Gloria Burgos had sacked the defendant four weeks before the attack

A cafe owner was murdered by a sacked employee in a "savage" attack which left the imprint of a shoe on her face, the Old Bailey has heard.

Gloria Burgos's body was found in Goode Food Cafe, in Bermondsey Street, south London, last September.

The 54-year-old had suffered 40 wounds, mostly to her upper body.

Slawomir Zakrzewski, 23, from Crystal Palace, south-east London, has admitted pushing and kicking Mrs Burgo during a row but denies robbery and murder.

The Polish-born defendant had been working at the cafe since 2007 as a kitchen assistant but was sacked four weeks before the attack, the court heard.

'Sustained attack'

Zakrzewski told police he had gone to see the victim, who had opened the cafe in 1991, for a reference letter but they got into a row during which he pushed her resulting in her falling.

Jonathan Rees, prosecuting, said: "The assault was so sustained and savage that the pathologist who conducted the post-mortem identified over 40 separate external injuries.

"These were associated with serious underlying injuries, including a severe brain injury and a collapsed lung."

He then said, he didn't know why, but he kicked her about the body a few times Jonathan Rees, prosecutor

"It is clear that her head had been particularly targeted, and that her attacker had stamped on the left side of her face with sufficient force to leave the imprint of the sole of his shoe," he said.

The prosecutor said the defendant had come to the shop to get money out of his employer.

"Having incapacitated her, he stole her money belt and her handbag," Mr Rees said.

The police found a pair of shoes at Zakrzewski's home, the pattern of which matched the heel imprint found on the victim, the court heard.

Her money belt, which had the day's takings of about £300, was also found at a disused garage near his home.

Mr Rees said: "He then said, he didn't know why, but he kicked her about the body a few times."

The trial continues.