His chronic pain in the preceding years meant he had repeatedly considered suicide, and he said that when police had previously been at his home he had asked them to shoot him. He said "suicide by police" had "crossed my mind", but he knew he had to pose a serious threat to police for an officer to shoot him. "I was trying to get attention that I wanted to die ... if I wanted them to kill me I would have attacked them," he said when asked about his comments. CCTV footage, recorded by cameras on John's house, captures him telling police they can shoot him or "mace" him, and that the spray had previously had no effect on him. Earlier that day he sent his psychologist a text message saying he wouldn't go back to hospital, and that police would have to shoot him. On Friday he told the court he wasn't suicidal on the day of the incident, and made his "stupid" remarks to police in an effort to deter them from being there. Senior Constable Brad McLeod, after an earlier appearance at Melbourne Magistrates Court. Credit:Eddie Jim

John said that on the day of the alleged assault, he told the officers to "f--- off" but then opened the front door reluctantly when police told him to. He said he took three small steps towards the officer in front of him and then felt a burning sensation in his eyes, when Senior Constable McLeod used capsicum spray on him. "I wanted to comply with them but all I got was this burning sensation and I got dragged to the ground and treated like an animal," John said. Loading John denied he was going to be violent towards the officers or confront them aggressively. He said police had attended at his house before but he had never been aggressive. "One man against six men armed to the teeth, are you serious? ... Who am I, Bruce Lee?" he said.

John said his hands were flailing in front of him to parry away the capsicum spray and that he was then dragged onto his lawn and pinned down. Victoria's Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission alleges Constable Edney, Senior Constable McLeod and Senior Constable Hilgart were excessive and unjustified in their use of force. IBAC investigators allege Senior Constable McLeod punched John in the stomach, that Constable Edney hit the pensioner with an extendable baton and stepped on his head and that Senior Constable Hilgart sprayed a high-pressure hose in the man's face. An image from CCTV showing police pinning pensioner John to the ground. The court heard John had previous convictions for assaulting a taxi driver and another man in separate road-rage incidents, and had been involved in a third road-rage incident but had never been charged. He also has a conviction over a fraudulent WorkCover claim.

He denied ever being aggressive towards police or to hospital staff, although he had yelled at medical staff and could be argumentative. The court heard that in 2014 he told his psychologist he had "armed up" with knives and tomahawks in his shed and wanted to end his life. "I did want to die. There was no way out because no one could help me," he said. On the day of the alleged police assault John texted his psychologist to say that he would "deal with it myself" and wanted to be left alone. But he told the court that was a reference to withdrawing from his medication, not ending his life. He said he was upset that his psychologist called police. John said he had respect for the law up to that day. Afterwards, he said, he contacted lawyers because he "wanted justice".

"This kind of behaviour cannot go on," he said. The hearing continues on Monday. If you or anyone you know needs support call Lifeline 131 114, or beyondblue 1300 224 636.