Murder accused Vic police officer bailed

A serving Victorian police officer accused of murdering a man during a routine traffic stop has been bailed to a psychiatric hospital.

Leading Senior Constable Timothy Howard Baker, 44, has suffered post traumatic stress disorder and made two serious attempts on his own life since the 2013 shooting death of Vlado Micetic, the Victorian Supreme Court heard on Wednesday.

Baker has said he was acting in self-defence after Mr Micetic pulled a knife on him, but the Crown alleges Baker planted the knife.

Defence barrister Ian Hill, QC, told the court Baker's mental state is "fragile" and he should be hospitalised.

The veteran officer has been in protective custody since his arrest on October 7, and his psychiatrist fears his mental state will deteriorate under the onerous conditions, Mr Hill said.

Baker has been confined to a cell for 23 to 24 hours a day.

"This is all on top of a pre-existing psychiatric issue," Mr Hill said.

The court heard Baker also has a recurring depressive order and suffers from anxiety.

Justice Beale said on October 5 last year, Baker tried to take his own life after having nightmares about the shooting.

He has had multiple admissions to a psychiatric facility since the shooting on August 25, 2013, Justice Beale said.

The court heard Baker stopped Mr Micetic because the car he was driving had stolen number plates.

Mr Micetic pulled out a knife, there was a struggle, and Baker shot Mr Micetic in self-defence, Mr Hill said.

"When the deceased's vehicle was searched a number of knives were found secreted in the vehicle, one of which contained the DNA of the deceased and his female passenger," Mr Hill said.

Justice Beale said he understood it was the Crown's case that Baker planted the knife in Mr Micetic's car.

Crown prosecutor Andrew Tinney did not oppose bail.

Justice Beale granted bail and ordered that a surety of $200,000 be paid.

Baker will be released at 11am on Thursday, when a bed becomes available at a psychiatric facility in Melbourne's inner south east.

He will return to court in January.