NEW YORK, NY September 25, 2009 —It was a bad day in court for State Senator Hiram Monserrate, who's charged with slashing his ex-girlfriend in the face. WNYCs Arun Venugopal has more on the testimony from the physician who met with her, soon after the incident.

REPORTER: Dr. Dawne Kort is the attending physician in the emergency room of Long Island Jewish Hospital. By her account, Karla Giraldo repeatedly said that she had been fighting with Monserrate, and that he deliberately shoved a glass into her face. This contradicts Giraldo's later, sworn statement and claims by the defense that her injuries were a result of Monserrate tripping while bringing her water. Convinced that Giraldo had been stabbed by Monserrate, Dr. Kort alerted the police. She also did this because Monserrate was in the waiting room, and she feared for his girlfriend's safety. But during cross examination, Monserate's attorney suggested Doctor Kort's memory was vague, and that Karla Giraldos's own account that night contained numerous inconsistencies. Reporting from Queens, for WNYC, I'm Arun Venugopal.

HOST: Testimony resumes on Tuesday.