The woman at the center of the assault case against former City Councilman Hiram Monserrate backed his story that it was all an accident.

Monserrate has maintained he tripped while holding a glass of water and accidentally hit Karla Giraldo in the face.

Giraldo told El Resumen, the Spanish-language paper she works for, that Monserrate did not mean to slash her.

She said, "He stumbled over something in the room. I was startled, and we stumbled into each other. I felt the water on my body and saw the blood on my face."

She received 20 stitches at the hospital.

Queens prosecutors say Monserrate broke the glass and slashed Giraldo after they argued over something he found in her purse.

Monserrate is charged with assault and weapons possession and is due back in court Tuesday.

He resigned from the City Council on Wednesday night in preparation to take his seat in the State Senate next week, but if convicted he would have to resign from the Senate and face seven years in jail.

Senate Republicans have proposed a resolution to block Monserrate from taking his seat until the charges are resolved.

Monserrate, who ran unopposed for the Senate, leaves one of three City Council seats that will be filled in a special election next month.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced today that the election will be held on Tuesday, February 24.

In addition to Monserrate's seat, voters will also choose replacements for Democrats Joseph Addabbo of Queens and Michael McMahon of Staten Island.

Back in November, Addabbo was elected to the State Senate, beating longtime Republican incumbent Serphin Maltese, while McMahon won his bid to replace Republican Congressman Vito Fossella in Washington, D.C.

Whoever is elected to replace the three men will serve until December 31, unless they are reelected in November's general election.