A coroner's hearing has revealed that cop-killer Dezi Freeman recorded his own death on his mobile phone as Victoria Police's elite Special Operations Group opened fire. Freeman was shot dead during a tense standoff at a remote shipping container hideout near Thologolong, on the Victoria-New South Wales border, on March 30.
The Recording
In a directions hearing before Coroner Liberty Sanger, the court heard that none of the SOG officers involved in the fatal shooting were wearing body cameras. Freeman, who had been on the run for seven months after gunning down Detective Leading Senior Constable Neil Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart at a rural Porepunkah property in north-east Victoria, activated the voice memos app on his phone 23 minutes before he was killed. The recording captured his final words, tense negotiations with police, the sound of gunfire, and officers clearing the container after he was shot.
Taunts and Threats
Counsel assisting the coroner, Lindsay Spence, told the court that Freeman repeatedly taunted heavily armed SOG officers, calling them 'thugs' and 'cowards' and claiming they were there to 'murder' him and his family. 'That is self defence ... they had come to murder me and my family,' he barked at them. The court heard police fired foam baton rounds at Freeman, forcing him to retreat into the shipping container. 'Cowards. Come and get me,' Freeman shouted.
The Final Confrontation
At one point, the armed fugitive, wrapped in a doona, stepped out of the modified shipping container holding a green bag that concealed his hands. He then pulled out a stolen police handgun and pointed it directly at officers, the inquest heard. This time, the SOG members opened fire with live rounds. Freeman was hit multiple times and died at the scene. A spent cartridge from the stolen police handgun was found near his body. Police allege Freeman fired at least one round during the confrontation.
Lack of Video Evidence
The court heard the only video of the fatal moments came from the police air wing helicopter, which had to leave briefly to refuel during the long standoff. Freeman had been the subject of a massive taskforce hunt after the Porepunkah ambush in August. He was finally tracked to a rural property on Murray River Road, where he was living in a converted shipping container. After hours of negotiations, gas canisters, and less-lethal rounds, the situation exploded when he emerged armed.
Negotiations and Goading
The court heard police had made repeated attempts to negotiate his surrender, including offering him a mobile phone, which he refused. Two hours of negotiations ensued, as Freeman goaded police officers by asking them to come 'have a beer with me' as he drank from a bottle. Eight SOG officers fired multiple rounds in the chaotic final seconds, with a tactical dog also deployed.
Separate Inquests
The inquest into Freeman's death will be held separately from the inquest into the deaths of the two murdered officers. Earlier, the court heard that Freeman had mocked Sen Const De Waart-Hottart and looted his body after shooting him in the head with a shotgun. 'F***ing scum ... you f***ing die in f***ing hell,' Freeman shouted as Senior Constable De Waart-Hottart lay on the ground.
Details of the Initial Shooting
Detective Leading Senior Constable Neil Thompson was shot first to the side of the face and neck as he entered a bus, collapsing instantly. Senior Constable De Waart-Hottart was then shot in the head as he tried to run, with Freeman taking his weapon from his corpse. 'I had no choice. I had no choice,' Freeman said repeatedly after shooting the officers.
Child Sex Allegations
Mr Spence told the court police had wanted to talk to Freeman about shocking child sex allegations. 'Investigators in June 2025 had received a disclosure in respect of an alleged sexual assault involving a child under the age of 16, as well as an attempt to involve a child in the production of child abuse material,' he said. 'The purpose of the search warrant was for the locating and seizure of electronic devices that were to be interrogated for the potential presence of child abuse material.'
After prolonged negotiations, Det Thompson climbed through the bus window where he was met with a shotgun blast. The killer later fired the shotgun towards other officers, causing serious injuries to one, before fleeing into bushland. 'The offender has stood over both bodies and said various things, which out of respect for the families, I will not repeat,' Mr Spence said.
Family and supporters of the slain police officers watched on as the explicit details were aired. Among them were the sisters of Det Thompson. Dianne Thompson and Lois Kirk linked arms as they entered the court for the first hearing about their brother's death.
