David Jenkin, now 49 and a Myrtleford police officer, was working in Hastings in 1996 when he claimed he needed to use force to subdue and arrest the woman on the night of March 9.

He is facing trial over charges including intentionally causing serious injury, which began at Melbourne County Court on Thursday.

Horvath suffered a broken nose and bruises to her face and body after allegedly being punched, and complications with a blood clot forced her to be admitted to hospital a week later for five days.

Now 44, she glared at Jenkin in the courtroom as the prosecutor asked her to look at photographs showing evidence from the incident.

Conflict between the 25-year-old Jenkin and 21-year-old Ms Horvath started the night before, on March 8, when the officer issued an unroadworthy ticket because her Holden Torana had faulty tail lights.

She said the car was not driven again the next day and she was at home, hosting a barbecue and watching the Grand Prix with friends.

Jenkin’s version is he arrived at her home just after 9.30pm after following her driving the Torana.

The “scuffle” began immediately, with Jenkin and Ms Horvath grabbing each other until they were pulled apart.

“He had his hands around my throat, all I could reach was his shirt,” she said.

The police left and returned an hour later with more officers – there were eight in total.

Jenkin kicked in the glass door and entered the house.

Horvath said she remembered hearing the glass shattering and ended up on the lounge room floor.

“I sort of remember doing a somersault, doing a flip, that's the only way I can describe it,” she said.

The next thing she remembered was sitting alone in the back of the police divisional van, handcuffed and covered in blood. “I just felt my face and it was all sticky,” Ms Horvath said.

“Everyone was yelling and screaming, I was screaming.”

Jenkin has not denied hitting Ms Horvath in Hastings in 1996, but his barrister Marcus Dempsey said the actions of punching her three times to three was required.

In his statement, he claimed he feared Ms Horvath was about to assault one of his colleagues, so he took her to the ground and struck her to stop her trying to punch him.

Prosecutor John Saunders said one of Ms Horvath’s friends described seeing Jenkin allegedly punch her with “full force” while she was on the ground.

“I saw him raise his fist and smash it down on her face 10 times or more,” the witness later told police.

“I was crying at the time and I was begging them to stop.”

The witness said Jenkin hit Ms Horvath in the back of the head after handcuffing her behind her back.

Others reported seeing Jenkin pick her up and throw her on her back, and punch her either before or after she was placed in handcuffs.

“When Mr Jenkin struck Ms Horvath, he intended to cause her injury,” Mr Saunders said. “The force he used was excessive.”

Ms Horvath denied kicking or spitting on Jenkin, but heard he had also been injured.

She agreed she had about 10 bongs and a few vodkas during the day.

Mr Dempsey questioned Ms Horvath over her “hatred” of police and her criminal history including cannabis use, making threats and assaulting police.

She said she “didn’t have an good attitude” towards police as a 21-year-old, but did not hate all officers.

The trial, being conducted before a jury of nine men and five women, is expected to last several weeks.

A larger than normal jury was put together to cover in case someone falls sick during the trial and a ballot will decide which 12 members will cast a vote at the end.

The trial continues on Monday.