A Brazilian backpacker was bound with her own bikini, gagged and sexually assaulted by a man who then ran over her German friend, a court has been told.
A 60-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to seven charges, including attempted murder, aggravated kidnapping, causing harm with intent, endangering life and indecent assault after the alleged attack on the two backpackers on a remote beach at the Coorong National Park, south-east of Adelaide in February 2016.
In court today, the Judge warned jurors they must be physically, emotionally and psychologically equipped to hear "graphic and shocking evidence" during the trial.
The court was told the accused responded to a Gumtree ad from the one of the backpackers looking for a ride to Melbourne.
On the way, he took them to the "isolated and remote" Salt Creek and told them they would be staying the night there.
The prosecution alleges the man lured the Brazilian backpacker away from her friend and the campsite by suggesting they search for kangaroos when he attacked her, threw her on the ground, and cut off her bikini that he used to gag her.
"She thought she was going to die," prosecutor Jim Pearce said in court.
"She asked if he was going to kill her. He didn't answer."
The court was told when the German woman heard her friend screaming, she ran over to her and allegedly found the accused over her friend's naked body in the sand dunes.
When the German woman ran back to get her phone, the prosecution said the accused hit her over the head with a hammer up to four times.
The two women then agreed in a “quick exchange” to run in separate directions.
The court heard the accused chased the German woman and “used his car to mow her down from behind, over and over and over again”.
"The vehicle literally ran over the top of her," the prosecutor said.
The trial continues.