The victim of a mugging in Sliema last December, 80-year-old Rose Garroni, died from massive head injuries as well as suffering a fractured pelvis and leg, it emerged in court yesterday.

The full extent of the woman’s injuries were laid bare in the courtroom, the result of an act of brutality the police believe was committed by three drug users desperate for their next hit.

Taking the witness stand, pathologist Mario Scerri, the court-appointed expert, said the internal haemorrhage on the brain would have been considered severe for a young person let alone someone of Ms Garroni’s age.

The doctor was testifying in the compilation of evidence against Charlie Brincat, 30, of Cospicua, Richard Attard, 29, of Birkirkara and 21-year-old Bernice Camilleri of Qawra who are pleading not guilty to stealing Ms Garroni’s handbag and causing her death on December 8.

Besides bleeding on the brain she also suffered a fractured pelvis and leg during the incident, the doctor said.

In a previous sitting, James Buhagiar said he had found her lying unconscious and bleeding in Dingli Circus. She was still alive and clutching a chain which he thought belonged to her handbag.

Ms Garroni died in hospital from her brain injury four days later.

Another elderly woman, Mary Cassar, 88, was helped by her nephew to get onto the witness stand yesterday. She testified that just 30 minutes after Ms Garroni’s attack is thought to have taken place, someone also tried to snatch her bag.

Ms Cassar was with her two nieces, Margot and Antoinette, about to cross the road when a man grabbed her handbag. As she shouted he ran off covering his face with his jacket. She didn’t see the person’s face, she said, but concluded it was a man.

The case continues.

Police Inspectors Chris Pullicino and Anne Marie Micallef prosecuted. Lawyers Mark Busuttil and Mark Anthony Mifsud appeared for the accused.