Expert claims sound before cop shot man dead could be flick knife
AN AUDIO expert involved in the murder trial of cop Tim Baker claims a sound captured 2.2 seconds before he fired is a “strong” match to that of a flick knife.
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A SOUND captured 2.2 seconds before cop Timothy Baker shot a criminal dead shared a “strong correlation” with the sound of a flick knife being deployed, a jury has heard.
Mr Baker, 46, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Vlado Micetic, 44, after pulling him over in Balaclava on August 25, 2013.
The Supreme Court heard Queensland Police senior forensic recording analyst Tim Woodcock brought the sound to the attention of Victorian investigators after being asked to provide a technical review of its analyst’s work.
Mr Woodcock said he highlighted the sound to Victoria Police senior forensic officer Paul Tierney, who later told him he had looked into it and determined it “was not something he was going to follow up”.
Audio of the alleged murder was captured by a recording device worn by Mr Baker, with video from a dash cam in his car capturing the lead-up to the shooting.
Mr Baker, who was a Leading Sen-Constable with 24 years on the job at the time, claims he shot Mr Micetic after he pulled a flick knife on him while attempting to arrest him for driving with stolen numberplates.
Mr Woodcock told the jury the sound shared a similar length and waveform to a field test recording of an officer deploying the flick knife found at the crime scene.
The court heard Mr Woodcock refused to tick-off on his review until the sound was addressed by Mr Tierney.
On Wednesday, Mr Tierney told the jury he believed the sound identified by Mr Woodcock wasn’t made by a knife.
“I do not believe that to be the knife,” he said.
Mr Tierney said he had identified the sound of a flick knife opening 14 and a half seconds after Mr Baker fired his first shot.
Mr Woodcock said he later ticked-off on the review after being advised his observation was not a focus of the analysis.
“I was happy with his method,” he said.
The trial before Justice Christopher Beale continues.