A 19-year-old driver and his 21-year-old female passenger were yesterday charged over a car chase on Tuesday during which an elderly woman was run over and police officers barely escaped injury.

Sean Zammit, from Birkirkara, and Loriana Abdilla, from Msida, pleaded not guilty.

Police Inspectors Sarah Magri and Jason Farrugia told Magistrate Anthony Vella that Mr Zammit was mostly to blame and Ms Abdilla was dragged along. They did point out, however, that she had attacked the police.

The officers said that Mr Zammit was no stranger to the police and, in fact, was being accused of relapsing and committing a crime while out on bail and during the operative period of a suspended jail term.

He is also accused of driving dangerously, seriously injuring 71-year-old Giuseppa Cesare, falsifying documents, damaging three vehicles, including a police car, driving through when the traffic lights were red and ignoring traffic signs.

The prosecuting officers argued that Mr Zammit did not care about court orders and had been given many chances to reform but failed to take heed.

Defence lawyer Josè Herrera played down the issue, saying that from a small incident it grew into something more serious. He asked for bail adding that strict conditions could be imposed.

The magistrate decided Mr Zammit should be remanded in custody. Ms Abdilla was granted bail against a deposit of €500 and a personal guarantee of €2,000.

The incident started when Mr Zammit was ordered by two Mobile Squad police to pull over.