A tourist who was brutally attacked and mugged last year, has returned to the Island to testify against his alleged attacker.

American Ronald Storms, 69, received many well wishes from locals after he was brutally attacked outside the Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel while using a payphone.

His attacker pounced on him and repeatedly banged Mr. Storms' head against the sidewalk, before making off with the senior's wallet.

Mr. Storms was knocked unconscious and received serious facial injuries as a result of the incident. Paul Lemar Smith, 31, of Ord Road, Paget has pleaded not guilty to three counts of wounding and three counts of stealing in Magistrates' Court.

Smith also faces trial for an alleged attack on a security guard at the Newstead and an attempted robbery of local resident James Conagham.

Mr. Storms, who had been visiting the Island for 30 years prior to the attack recalled the events of October 1, under questioning from Crown counsel Cindy Clarke.

He explained how he was using the phone that evening and as he went to hang up the receiver, he was approached and slammed to the ground by his attacker.

"I thought he was coming to use the phone," he said. "I managed to complete my turn, just before I was attacked."

Larry Mussenden, who is defending Smith, suggested that the area was not well lit at the time of the attack and he doubted if Mr. Storms had gotten a good view of Smith.

"The area was well lighted," he said. "I had no problem seeing - I saw him well enough to know that he was coming at me as I was hanging up the phone. I directly looked at him for three to five seconds, well enough to concentrate on him before he attacked me."

The Crown intends to call eight witnesses in relation to the charges and the case continues on Monday before Acting Magistrate Justin Williams.