The man behind the wheels of a vehicle that struck a Chinese woman at Vailoa causing her death last year has denied that he was negligent on his part.

There are allegations the accused was racing along the main road when the accident happened.

Gafa Siona Tauafao of Malie's trial started before Supreme Court Justice, Leiataualesa Daryl Clarke this week. 

The defendant was represented by lawyer Cata Seiuli while the prosecutor was Office of the Attorney General’s lawyer, Maiavatele Timothy Fesili.

Tauafao pleaded guilty to two charges namely failure to ascertain if the person was injured and driving with an unregistered vehicle. 

He has however pleaded not guilty to one count of negligent driving causing the death of the Chinese national in September last year. 

The prosecution called several witnesses to support its case against mostly police officers who handled the investigation and eyewitnesses who were in the area at the time of the incident. 

Some of the police officers who gave evidence tendered photographs of the scene at Vailoa where the hit and run occurred. 

The defendant had been suspended from driving pending the outcome of his trial that is underway. 

Tauafao is alleged to have driven a white Hyundai Getz that struck the Chinese woman at Vailoa near the CBM petrol station early Sunday morning.

A police search was launched when the defendant did not stop nor report the hit and run. Footage from a CCTV video was used to assist the authority in identifying the vehicle involved and it was traced to Tauafao.