Timothy Baker allegedly planted a knife at the scene where a man was shot dead
A VICTORIAN police officer charged with murdering a man during a traffic stop said the victim threatened him with a knife.
A VICTORIAN police officer shot an unarmed man in the chest during a routine traffic stop then planted a knife at the scene, prosecutors say.
Former leading senior constable Timothy Howard Baker is facing a murder charge after firing three bullets at Vlado Micetic at close range in August 2013, killing the 46-year-old.
Baker says he was acting in self-defence after Mr Micetic “menaced” him with a knife.
Mr Micetic had been pulled over because the car he was driving had stolen number plates, the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court heard on Monday.
Mr Micetic resisted as Baker attempted to handcuff him. A struggle occurred and the officer fired three shots.
Prosecutor Andrew Tinney SC told the committal hearing there was no evidence Mr Micetic was armed.
“It was the accused who took the knife to the scene and then planted it as part of an excuse for the shooting of Mr Micetic,” Mr Tinney said.
A second police car arrived within moments of the shots being fired.
Baker said to one of the officers “he’s been shot” or “I shot him”, then re-holstered his weapon, the court heard.
“Only with the arrival of the other unit did the accused call in the fact he had shot someone,” Mr Tinney said.
“There could have been no justification at all for the accused to have shot Mr Micetic.” The committal hearing is scheduled to last seven days.