An elderly woman identified a man who is being accused of attempting theft and causing grievous injuries to her, a court heard yesterday.

Police Inspector Daniel Zammit testified in the man’s trial that the woman could recognise the suspect because he was the only one of the three robbers not wearing a balaclava but just a baseball cap.

The incident happened in Qormi eight years ago when the accused was still 17 years old.

Now 25, his name cannot be published since he was a minor at the time.

He is accused of breaking into Dolores Debono’s home in the afternoon of June 27, 2006.

Ms Debono, now 89 years old, was not likely to testify in the trial and her testimony during the compilation of evidence would be used instead, Mr Justice Michael Mallia, who is presiding over the trial, was informed.

She had told the police three men had entered her house and, while one restrained her, the others searched the place for any valuables.

At one point, the person restraining her dragged her across the floor, injuring her.

The police arrested a number of people and the woman picked the accused during two identification parades.

She told officers that the other two men had their faces covered.

The victim was certified to have suffered fractures to her toes and bruises to her face and other parts of her body.

When the accused was interrogated by the police he chose not to reply to most of the questions although he denied his involvement, insisting he was home alone when the incident took place.

The trial continues today.

Lawyers Giannella Busuttil and Nadia Attard, from the Attorney General’s Office, are prosecuting. Lawyer Leslie Cuschieri is defence counsel.