A COMMUTER has told an Italian court how she almost fell through a "gaping hole" in a station moving walkway - more than two hours before University of York professor Sally Baldwin fell to her death.

Professor Baldwin, 62, a sociology lecturer, sustained horrific injuries and died at the scene after plunging through the faulty walkway in front of her horrified ex-husband, Jack.

The accident happened two years ago at Rome's Tiburtina station.

The trial of three directors of OCS, the firm in charge of maintaining the walkway, has resumed at the city's criminal court after a five month break.

Domenico Leti, 71, and two managers in charge of maintenance operations, Leonardo Casali, 32, and Luana Lepore, 28, deny manslaughter and negligence.

Two Italian maintenance workers were last year convicted of manslaughter.

An inquest into Professor Baldwin's death in York in May this year heard how Massimo Migotto and Sergio Marfut had made a catalogue of errors, including not cordoning off the area, which led to train passengers using the faulty walkway from which five sections had been removed the day before.

Now commuter Giuseppina Pannunzio, 34, has told the Italian trial how she had narrowly avoided being dragged into the hole at 8am, more than two hours before Professor Baldwin was killed.

She said: "As walked towards the walkway I heard some very strange noises as if it was really straining and pieces were coming away.

"To be honest it frightened me a bit and I was in two minds about getting on it as it just didn't sound at all right.

"No sooner had I stepped on it than I saw a gaping hole opening up in front of me. I remember the walkway seemed to be going very fast and I was heading towards the hole.

"It must have been at least a metre and a half wide and if it hadn't been for a friend grabbing hold of me I would have fallen through and been killed.

"My friend hit the emergency stop button and after what seemed a very long time the walkway stopped. I was screaming and hysterical because I realised how close I had come."

The court also heard from Nino Fanti, director of works at Tiburtina railway station, who said he had received two emails from OCS that morning telling him the walkway was in working order.

The trial has now been adjourned until next month, and lawyer Maria Carla Pagnotta, who is representing Professor Baldwin's family, said relatives would attend the hearing.

Updated: 10:15 Thursday, October 27, 2005