A Sydney policeman who pushed a "frail" 73-year-old man to the ground in a supermarket told a witness "you would do the same thing", a court has heard. The man died six days later from a heart attack the prosecution says was not related to the alleged assault.

Constable Antonio Saffioti, 51, pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Constable Antonio Saffioti has pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Credit:Edwina Pickles

His alleged victim, Leonard Bartholomuesz, 73, suffered a broken ball joint at the top of his leg and a dislocated shoulder after the fall. Six days later he died in hospital.

The case before the Downing Centre District Court on Tuesday centred on what happened during two or three seconds on 30 April 2013 on the lower ground floor of the Woolworths supermarket near Town Hall railway station.