by Julia Roberts

A Romanian carpenter pushed a commuter off a station platform and onto the train track after she admonished him for smoking, a court heard today.

Ionel Rapisca, 33, allegedly shoved mother-of-three Linda Buchanan while she was waiting to catch a rush-hour train from Farningham Road station in August 2008.

A jury at Maidstone Crown Court heard the force of the push caused the 58-year-old to step backwards and fall onto the track below, narrowly missing the 750-volt live rail.

She fractured her wrist in the fall and suffered bruising to her thigh. Rapisca, of Joyce Green Lane, Dartford, then jumped onto the track himself and dragged Miss Buchanan back onto the platform before fleeing.

Prosecutor John O' Higgins said other commuters either saw or heard the incident, which occurred shortly before the arrival of the 7.12am train to London Victoria on August 6.

Rapisca denies causing grievous bodily harm with intent, as well as two alternative charges of inflicting grievous bodily harm and assault causing actual bodily harm.

The trial continues tomorrow, with the jury being shown CCTV footage of the incident and then hearing evidence from Miss Buchanan.