A former journalist told a court today that police officers called to the scene of a traffic accident where a fellow police officer crashed into a motorcyclist were not interested in preserving the scene and failed to question witnesses to obtain their version of events.

Julia Farrugia was testifying in the case of Jean-Claude Mangion, a 21-year-old constable from Qrendi, who was driving to work just after 5am on January 10, 2014 when he was involved in a collision with a motorcycle driven by Clive Brincat, 32, from Floriana.

The officer was charged with causing Mr Brincat’s death through negligence, damaging the motorcycle, driving his Peugeot 206 negligently and dangerously, speeding and committing a crime he was duty-bound to prevent.

A few metres in front of me, I saw a corpse. I was shocked and swerved into the opposite lane to avoid driving over it

Ms Farrugia was summoned by lawyers Michael and Lucio Sciriha, who are appearing parte civile for the Brincat family.

The former journalist told the court that she usually passed through Triq il-Konvoj ta' Santa Marija in Mqabba on her way to work as she used to present a breakfast show at the time.

Driving down the road on the day, Ms Farrugia said she was surprised to observe "a lot of objects" strewn across the road.

"A few metres in front of me, I saw a corpse. I was shocked and swerved into the opposite lane to avoid driving over it."

Upon seeing the accused directing traffic, and assuming he was the police officer on duty, Ms Farrugia stopped her car, rolled down the window and asked him whether any help was needed.

The accused asked her whether she was a nurse, to which Ms Farrugia replied she was not, but added that she had just completed a first aid course.

"I switched on the hazard lights and ran towards the body. There were two men standing next to me who told me that he was still breathing. I bent down - he was still warm. I could detect a very weak pulse," Ms Farrugia told Magistrate Doreen Clarke.

"I asked the policeman where the other party was. He replied that he was the one. That's when I realised what was truly happening."

Not knowing whether an ambulance had been summoned or not, Ms Farrugia phoned up for one. She noted that the operator who answered did not seem to have been informed of the incident.

In the meantime, the accused received a phone call, with Ms Farrugia overhearing him saying: "No, I can't do that because a journalist is here".

Police officers from the Rapid Intervention Unit subsequently arrived on the scene. Ms Farrugia advised them to close the road to traffic as objects were strewn across the road and cars were still driving by. However, the RIU officers did not seem particularly interested in preserving the scene of crime, Ms Farrugia noted.

RIU officers proceeded to ask the two passers-by to get out of the way, without attempting to obtain their version of events, Ms Farrugia continued.

She took pictures of the crime scene and waited on site until the ambulance arrived.

Ms Farrugia said she subsequently phoned police headquarters  and asked to speak to the police commissioner. She left a message with the duty officer.

"No one cared to listen to me. No one asked me for my details," Ms Farrugia recalled.

At around 6am, she received a phone call from the police informing her that the police's media unit would be getting in touch with her to answer her queries.

Ms Farrugia explained that she was not a journalist seeking information but, on the contrary, wanted to give her own version of events. She eventually gave a statement to the police at the Zejtun police station.

"I don't feel I should have had to insist with the police for them to obtain my testimony," Ms Farrugia said.

The case continues. Inspector Johann Fenech is prosecuting. Lawyer Robert Abela is defending the accused.