Two men stand accused of a brutal double murder in the quiet rural town of Porepunkah, Victoria, after the bodies of two missing persons were discovered in a shallow grave.
Stephen Mallett, 43, and Dezi Freeman, 36, were last seen in the Wangaratta area on September 4th, prompting a widespread missing persons investigation. Their remains were tragically found five days later in a remote location off McKoy Road in Porepunkah.
Following an intensive investigation by Victoria Police's Missing Persons Squad and local detectives, two men were arrested and charged with two counts of murder each.
The accused, a 29-year-old from Wangaratta and a 27-year-old from Euroa, faced Wangaratta Magistrates' Court on Tuesday for a brief filing hearing. The court was told the men were known to the victims.
Magistrate Stella Stuthridge adjourned the case for a committal mention in February 2025, noting the complexity of the case and the significant amount of evidence to be compiled. Both defendants were remanded in custody until their next appearance.
The community of Porepunkah, a small town near Bright in Victoria's alpine region, has been left reeling by the horrific crime. The discovery has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community, unaccustomed to violence of this nature.
Detectives continue to appeal to the public for any information regarding the movements of the victims or the accused in early September. The investigation remains ongoing.
