Policeman who shot dead a knife-wielding Indigenous mother in the street was not a 'trigger-happy' officer, murder trial hears

The murder trial of a policeman who shot dead an Indigenous woman on a suburban West Australian street is set to hear further witness evidence.

As many as 60 people could be called to testify in the WA Supreme Court trial of the first-class constable, whose cannot be named for legal reasons.

He has pleaded not guilty to murdering the 29-year-old woman, known as JC for cultural reasons, in the Mid West town of Geraldton on September 17, 2019.

JC, a mother-of-one, had experienced mental health and drug problems and recently been released from prison before her death.

The accused was one of eight police officers who arrived at the scene after JC was spotted with a large knife and a pair of scissors.

Family and supporters of a woman, referred to as 'JC' at family's request, leave the District Court of West Australia in Perth

As the trial got underway on Tuesday, the jury was shown confronting CCTV footage of JC being shot while surrounded by four police vehicles.

Director of Public Prosecutions Amanda Forrester SC said five of the officers had stayed in their cars, a sixth left his vehicle unarmed and attempted to speak to JC and another had drawn his Taser but had not activated it.

The accused got out of his vehicle, drew his loaded firearm and ran towards JC.

'Less than three seconds after she stopped walking, the accused shot her in the abdomen,' Ms Forrester told the jury.

The court was told the accused, who is on bail, had spent five years as a permanent officer and 18 months as a probationary constable.

Given his extensive training, the number of officers present and the other available weapons, the shooting was 'wholly unnecessary', Ms Forrester said.

The officer's lawyer Linda Black said the court would be presented with evidence that her client acted correctly by drawing his gun, rather than a Taser, when confronting a person armed with a knife.

She said JC turned towards the accused, who was about three metres away, and 'eyeballed' him when he demanded she drop the knife.

The officer, who had never fired his gun while on duty, had less than a second to decide whether to pull the trigger given the close proximity, she said.

'He was not some trigger-happy constable ... he was a brave and careful officer who took pride in his job,' Ms Black said.

The lawyer added that the case had 'nothing whatsoever' to do with race.

The trial continues.

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The officer's lawyer Linda Black said the court would be presented with evidence that her client acted correctly by drawing his gun, rather than a Taser, when confronting a person armed with a knife