Footage showing the arrest of a Canberra teenager, in which two police officers dragged him from the car and swore at him, has been played to an ACT court as the officers involved appealed their conviction for assault.

Key points: Constable James Head and Senior Constable Matthew McVicar were found guilty of assault last year

Constable James Head and Senior Constable Matthew McVicar were found guilty of assault last year They are appealing that decision, relying on fresh evidence and claiming they were denied fair process

They are appealing that decision, relying on fresh evidence and claiming they were denied fair process Video of the arrest shows the teenager being dragged from the car, held down and handcuffed

The video shows an ACT Policing constable warning the backseat passenger during a traffic stop in Canberra's city centre on Australia Day in 2017.

The ACT Supreme Court heard the incident began when the officers attempted to pull the car over after it drove through the Civic Bus Interchange, an area blocked to regular traffic.

In explaining his actions before the video began, the driver said he realised his mistake and left the interchange, but could not find a place to stop for some distance.

He eventually stopped in a nearby carpark.

Teen dragged from car, held face-down, handcuffed

The footage shows Constable James Head walk up to the car and demand to see the driver's licence, saying: "What is your problem, do you not know how to drive?"

The backseat passenger is then heard speaking, drawing the attention of Constable Head.

"If you do not shut up your mouth I'll pull you out and arrest you. I'll be searching you for being a smart-arse," he can be heard saying.

He asked for the passenger's license, but the teenager said he was not carrying identification.

Moments later, Constable Head and Senior Constable Matthew McVicar ordered the victim to "get the f*** out of the car right now", before dragging the young man from the vehicle.

The teenager was held face-down on the ground while he was handcuffed.

Officers claim video does not show all

In April last year, Magistrate Robert Cook found Head and McVicar guilty of assault, arguing they had no lawful excuse for their actions.

But the police officers appealed that decision to the ACT Supreme Court.

The footage of the incident, recorded by the victim's girlfriend, was on Wednesday played during the appeal before Justice David Mossop.

Defence lawyer James Sabharwal told the court the appeal rested upon three grounds, including fresh evidence, and the officers had been denied procedural fairness.

A witness to the incident, who did not give evidence during the Magistrates Court hearing, was questioned in the witness box about her memory of events.

Prosecutor Trent Hickey argued the witness's recollection appeared to be affected by the passage of time, and said they appeared confused over how the police approached the car.

He said the fresh evidence would not have changed the finding of guilt in the lower court.

Mr Sabharwal also argued the magistrate had relied heavily on the footage, which only showed the second interaction between police and the occupants of the vehicle, rather than the entire incident.

He said the allegation of excessive use of force had also not been put to his clients during the hearing, which was a denial of procedural fairness.

But Mr Hickey said it was clear that Magistrate Cook had rejected parts of Head and McVicar's evidence.

He said the footage showed the officers had no justification for the belief the victim had hindered police and he had only been arrested for resisting because he did not immediately get out of the car when ordered.

Mr Sabharwal said the court had two options in determining the appeal — to either dismiss the case or uphold the appeal and send the matter back to the Magistrates Court for a retrial.

Justice Mossop reserved his decision.