Jenkin, a Myrtleford police officer, is facing trial over charges including intentionally causing serious injury, accused of punching the woman to the head multiple times in her home 22 years ago, on March 9, 1996.

Now 49, the incident occurred when he was in his mid-20s and a constable stationed in Hastings.

Colleen Kniese was at Ms Horvath’s home on the day when police forced their way inside and demanded guests get down on their hands and knees.

She was visibly upset at Melbourne County Court on Tuesday as she recounted what happened.

“(Ms Horvath) was slammed to the ground by who I believe is Mr Jenkin, she was handcuffed,” Mrs Kniese said.

“He cocked his leg over her and he continuously punched her in the face until I saw blood come out of her face.

“Then I saw her head slump unconscious and I couldn’t hear anything from her. I just said ‘stop, you can’t do this’.”

She said Jenkin allegedly threw six punches at Ms Horvath until “blood was like a fountain out of her nose”.

“I was trying to get to her, but I couldn’t because I was getting held.”

Jenkin’s barrister questioned Mrs Kniese about evidence she was drunk on the day and had been in Ms Horvath’s Holden Torana when it sped away from police.

Jenkin has claimed he attended Ms Horvath’s house on the day to inspect the car, which had been labelled unroadworthy the day before, and told the woman she was under arrest before entering the house.

She denies having driven the car on the day.

Other friends also back up Ms Horvath’s version of events.

Lisa Rick was making a coffee when she heard the glass front door smash and police enter the house.

She said she saw Ms Horvath walking backwards with her hands in their air when a policeman threw her to the ground.

“I was shocked at what I was seeing. He was over the top of her and I just saw punch after punch come down onto her face,” she said.

“He used every bit of force he could use.”

Mrs Rick said there were 10 to 12 blows to the face and back of the head, before Jenkin and another officer dragged an unconscious Ms Horvath out of the house.

Timour Madkour said he heard Jenkin say “you’re not so mouthy now” before punching her.

“She wasn’t moving too much,” he said.

“I was 17 years old and I was looking at a pile of blood on the floor from Corinna.”

Mr Madkour denied a suggestion from the defence that he was lying and said he never saw Ms Horvath raise her fists at Jenkin, nor spit at or kick him.

The trial continues on Wednesday.