A court yesterday heard how a Dutch woman fell off the bus she was on and was seriously injured after the driver did not give her enough time to alight.

Maria Bank was testifying in the compilation of evidence against bus driver Anthony Xerri, 64, from Fgura, who is pleading not guilty to seriously injuring the woman, driving his bus dangerously and damaging her property.

Magistrate Antonio Mizzi heard that Ms Bank was on a bus on her way to the Tarxien Temples with her husband when the incident took place on Tuesday.

Taking the witness stand, Ms Bank said she had boarded the bus in Valletta and noticed the driver being hostile to a group of German tourists. "He jumped out of his seat and shouted at them that only half the group could get on as it was full up," she said, adding that she was scared as she had never experienced such a bus driver before.

Ms Bank said that on the way to Tarxien they had to take a detour because there was an accident. She asked a Maltese woman where to stop. "The woman told us to get off at the next bus stop and take another bus in the opposite direction because the driver had driven well away from the temples."

Ms Bank said that her husband then rang the bell and the bus swerved to the kerb and stopped. Her husband alighted and made a "thank you gesture" to the driver. As she was getting off the bus, the driver stepped on the accelerator causing her to fall and hit the pavement. "I had to have nine stitches to my face because my glasses cut my brow so deeply," she said.

Bursting into tears as she recounted her ordeal, Ms Bank continued: "I was so scared, fearful that we were going to have an accident... Our holiday was ruined. Bus drivers never treat customers like that in our country."

The case continues.

Police Inspector Priscilla Caruana prosecuted. Lawyer Nicole Vella was defence counsel.