An Italian tourist yesterday recounted how she was thrown to the ground when a passing car hit her with its side mirror, catching her jacket and ripping it.

Camilla Righi was testifying in the case against 39-year-old Frankie Cutajar, from Cospicua, who is pleading not guilty to causing serious involuntary injuries and driving dangerously.

She told the court she was on the pavement near Fort St Elmo on Good Friday when she felt her jacket tearing and was then thrown to the ground.

She said the driver stopped immediately and offered assistance. He was not driving fast, she added.

Her torn, dark purple jacket was handed over to Magistrate Marseann Farrugia who inspected the damage.

Asked if she had stepped into the road, the Italian woman said she could have but honestly could not remember as she had blacked out before being taken to hospital.

Defence lawyers Albert Zerafa and Valentina Latughi requested bail. Magistrate Farrugia granted the accused bail against a personal guarantee of €1,000 and a deposit of €3,000.