By Staff Reporter

Last updated at 11:35, Tuesday, 07 August 2012

A woman told a court how she was dragged out of her car by the hair before being attacked with a piece of broken glass while driving through a quiet village near Carlisle.

Agnes White said her attacker, Tina Miller – her sister’s 30-year-old sister-in-law – was shouting death threats.

Giving evidence for the prosecution at Carlisle Crown Court, Ms White said the incident happened at about lunchtime on Wednesday April 20 last year, as she was driving alone through Houghton, a few miles north of the city, after visiting her sister Margaret Young in the Cumberland Infirmary. Ms Young was following behind in her own car, having just been discharged from hospital.

Ms White said that as she neared Houghton post office she was suddenly aware of someone opening the driver’s door of her car and pulling her out.

She said she recognised her assailant as Tina Miller, because she had known her for 15 years as the sister of Margaret’s husband, William “Harry” Young.

“She got me by the hair, grabbing it in both hands,” Ms White said.

She said that after being forced out of the car she ended up on her knees on the road.

“My face was down and she was kicking me – hard,” she said.

She said Miller was shouting such things as “You’re dead” and “Peter’s dead” [referring to her husband Peter White].

Ms White said she managed to get to her feet and found her way back to her car, but when she tried to drive away she could not start the engine.

She got out of the car and with the help of other people managed to push it to the side of the road. It was alleged that Miller then picked up a jar of baby food, smashed it on the ground and ran at Ms White with the broken shard in her hand.

Ms White could remember little except being on the ground with her eyes and face covered in blood.

Prosecuting counsel Kenneth Grant told the jury that Ms White was then taken by her sister to }hospital, where she was treated for wounds to her neck, forehead, face and arm.

Miller, whose address was listed on court records as The Green, Houghton, was arrested six months later.

She has pleaded not guilty to causing Ms White actual bodily harm.

She has chosen to represent herself in court, without the benefit of any legal advice even though, the jury has heard, she can neither read nor write.

The trial continues.

First published at 11:25, Tuesday, 07 August 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk