Dezi Freeman shouted abuse at a dying police constable during a shooting that killed two Victoria Police officers, a coroner has heard. The details emerged during a directions hearing into the deaths of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart, 35, who were killed in Porepunkah in August last year.
The court heard that on 26 August, five officers arrived at a converted bus where Freeman lived with his family to execute a search warrant over an alleged sexual assault of a child under 16 and an attempt to involve a child in producing child abuse material. Freeman initially refused to come out, telling police they 'could go to hell'. After eventually being shown the warrant, which he called 'bullshit', he said he would exit but failed to do so.
Senior Constable Thompson climbed through a window to gain access to the bus. As his feet touched the ground, he was shot in the face and neck. Freeman then shot Senior Constable De Waart-Hartt as other officers ran for cover. The court heard Freeman said 'I had no choice' and later returned to the bus, swearing over the bodies: 'Fucking scum, die in hell.' He then fired De Waart-Hartt's firearm again at Thompson.
Freeman later emerged with two guns and fired at a third officer, injuring them, before fleeing towards a river. He sent a message to his wife: 'Get a mile away and keep going. See you in heaven, love.' After a seven-month manhunt, Freeman, 56, was shot dead by police on 30 March at a makeshift campsite in Thologolong, about 150km away. The coroner is expected to set dates and scope for the inquests.
