An 83-year-old American tourist testified yesterday that she struggled with a handbag snatcher who brandished a knife before making a getaway just outside Hamilton City limits.

Alice Fiorani admitted that she had her eyes closed during the attack around 9.10 p.m. on May 18, 2001.

Kenneth Eugene Richardson, 36 of no fixed abode, has pleaded not guilty of aggravated robbery with a knife. Mrs. Fiorani lost $1,200 in goods including $750 in cash.

Richardson's lawyer, Victoria Pearman, focussed on the issue that at the time of the crime it was dark and her client could not be clearly identified.

Before a jury of five men and seven women, the court heard testimony of how Mrs. Fiorani, from North Carolina and her daughter, Patricia Rick of New Jersey, had just finished dinner at the Portofino Restaurant on Bermudiana Road, when they decided to take a shortcut back to their hotel - the Rosemont Guest Apartments - via the Rosedon Hotel property.

Mrs. Fiorani told Assistant Justice Charles Etta Simmons: "We walked as far as the Rosedon and took the short cut. I was carrying my handbag, we were laughing and talking and then about two-thirds the way up the hill, I felt somebody behind me attempting to remove my handbag off my shoulder.

"I just kept saying 'no, no, no'. And at that point, my daughter realised what was going on and came to help."

Mrs. Fiorani said a tug of war ensued, with her attacker dragging her and her daughter to the ground and across the grass.

And she said it was not until her attacker produced a knife and said "just let go," that she relinquished her grip.

"I had my eyes closed because I was struggling so much. When he spoke, I looked up and saw the knife blade not far from my face. He apparently cut the straps - he hesitated for a minute to adjust his balance and then he ran diagonally across the lawn. I was left with the straps - and I stayed there on the ground because I couldn't get up."

Mrs. Fiorani was not asked to identify Richardson by either the prosecution or the defence during yesterday's proceedings.

And under cross examination investigating officer, Det. Con. David Gerahdey about the lighting of the area and more specifically that the struggle that ensued with the victim and the attacker was "stressful".

Ms Pearman maintained that it was impossible for Mrs. Fiorani to make a positive identification of her attacker and alluded to the fact that her client might have been subject to mistaken identification.

She addressed Detective Constable David Gerahdey and said: "In her statement what did Mrs. Fiorani say?"

"That she had been robbed by a black man with a knife," Det. Con. Gerahdey said.

"I'm going to suggest to you that the only statement given was that the person was black - the only description that Mrs. Fiorani gave was that the assailant was black. It's also true that she said in her statement 'I do not think I would recognise this man if I saw him again'," Ms Pearman said.

"That's true, Mrs. Fiorani did say that 'we cannot describe him, only that he was black'. But Ms Rick also gave a description and said she was confident of recognising him again."

Crown counsel Anthony Blackman prosecuted the case. The case continues today and Ms Rick is expected to take the stand.