A Victorian court has been told a psychologist who was found dead in her garage last year saw signs her husband was becoming a "dangerous person" and took precautions to protect herself and her children before he allegedly killed her.

Key points: The court heard Adrian James Basham was "obsessive-compulsive" about everything being "a certain way"

The court heard Adrian James Basham was "obsessive-compulsive" about everything being "a certain way" Samantha Fraser would become "panicked" in the days before Mr Basham returned from his fly-in, fly-out job, the court heard

Samantha Fraser would become "panicked" in the days before Mr Basham returned from his fly-in, fly-out job, the court heard Her brother-in-law told the court Ms Fraser was "living in constant fear" in the year before her death

Adrian James Basham is accused of killing Samantha Fraser, 38, at her Cowes home, south-east of Melbourne, on July 23, 2018.

The psychologist was found dead in her garage after she did not collect her three children from primary school.

A committal hearing for Mr Basham heard Ms Fraser was afraid for her life and bought a new mobile phone, changed her number and changed the locks of her home after the couple separated in 2017.

Ms Fraser's friend, Nadine Leed, told the hearing Mr Basham was a fly-in, fly-out worker who would spend up to five weeks away on Barrow Island in Western Australia.

She said Ms Fraser's stress levels would increase in the days leading up to his return from shifts away.

"If he was due to come home on a Thursday I knew her stress levels would start rising on Tuesday," Ms Leed told the court.

"She was in a panicked state, she said we couldn't catch up because she had to vacuum the car to make sure not a single grain of sand was in the car and to make sure not a single thing was out of place."

"She had to have cans and jars in the fridge with the labels facing outwards."

Ms Leed told the committal hearing Ms Fraser kept a diary detailing her appointments, the people she'd meet and even when she had her period.

She also said Ms Fraser had seen photos of herself on the family photo sharing service iCloud, and became concerned there were cameras in the house.

Ms Fraser's body was found in her garage in July 2018. ( ABC News: James Oaten )

When questioned by the prosecutor Melissa Mahady, Ms Leed told the court that Ms Fraser was scared Mr Basham was "unravelling".

"She, being a professional psychologist, she knew, and could detect some of the traits that Adrian had which would make him a very dangerous person," Ms Leed told the court.

"She felt that he had begun to unravel, she knew then that she was at risk.

"She was very specific, she knew her life was at risk, and she knew that by taking her power back and deciding to leave him, would cause him to retaliate in an aggressive, dangerous manner.

"She said that he would kill her, kill the children, and then kill himself. That was her concern, and her fear."

'Everything needed to be a certain way'

Ms Fraser's brother-in-law Luke Henderson, who is married to Ms Fraser's sister Josephine, was cross-examined by the defence.

Mr Henderson, who is a clinical psychologist in Melbourne, told the committal hearing at Latrobe Valley Magistrates' Court that Ms Fraser had told her family she was considering ending the marriage in early 2017, more than a year before her death.

He told the court Ms Fraser and Mr Basham separated and then got back together before separating for the final time in early 2017.

"Sam was breaking down mentally, she lost heaps of weight. When I hugged her she was trembling. She was living in constant fear," he said.

"I'd ask her if she was alright, she'd say things are really tough."

'Everything needed to be a certain way'

A committal hearing for the murder charge against Mr Basham is being held at the Latrobe Valley Magistrates' Court in Morwell. ( ABC News: Sarah Maunder )

Mr Henderson, 35, appeared in court via video link and said he was unaware of any dispute between Mr Basham and Ms Fraser relating to custody of their two daughters and son, or property.

"She said Adrian had [physically] backed her into a corner and intimidated her and she was scared of Adrian," Mr Henderson told the court.

Mr Henderson said Adrian Basham was "controlling, manipulative and on that occasion, it also sounded like it was physically abusive".

He told the committal hearing he had witnessed Mr Basham's behaviour in that regard.

"For example, if you wore your shoes inside he was very obsessive-compulsive about that. He would take them off your feet and take them outside. Everything needed to be a certain way," Mr Henderson said.

Mr Henderson said Ms Fraser had started a new relationship with a man whom he met the day before she died.

She feared for her children's safety

Ms Fraser's mother Janine Fraser told the court that Mr Basham would make her daughter account for all her spending so he could build his "dream house" on Phillip Island.

Mrs Fraser said she had spoken to Mr Basham about his behaviour towards her daughter.

"I mentioned to him on more than one occasion that if he didn't seek help and change his behaviour that he would lose his family," she said.

Mrs Fraser said Ms Fraser was "anxious" about the safety of her children.

"She was concerned at times about him taking the children in the car, and them not having their seatbelts on."

Mrs Fraser said her daughter was "special" and "committed to trying to make her marriage work".

"I respected her, I supported her in her marriage, but I saw some disturbing behaviour within that marriage, so I was very concerned for her."

Mrs Fraser said that her daughter was adamant Mr Basham had only been physically violent with her once.

"Sam maintains he did not hurt her, except on one occasion where he punched her. That happened in the car, he was driving really fast, and she wanted him to slow down, he turned the music up loud, and he punched her arm, hard."

The hearing continues.