Porepunkah police shooting update dezi freeman hunt for accused police killer enters sixth day porepunkah victoria 20250831 p5zgk0.html – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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'Please Dezi': Wife of accused cop killer speaks on sixth day of manhunt

9News Staff

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The wife of accused killer Dezi Freeman has urged her husband to hand himself in six days after he disappeared following a deadly ambush at his Porepunkah home.

In a statement through her lawyer, Amalia Freeman said she and her children felt "deep sorrow" for the shooting ambush that killed Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, and injured a third officer, at the property on August 26.

"We are truly sorry for your loss, and the suffering and grief that the families, friends and colleagues of Detective Leading Senior Constable Thompson and Senior Constable De Waart are now experiencing," she said.

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Police are yet to confirm any sightings of Freeman since the Tuesday ambush.

Police are yet to confirm any sightings of Dezi Freeman since the ambush. Nine

"My children and I grieve for the loss of your loved ones."

She said she and her children respected the "important work" of Victoria Police and did not hold "anti-authority views".

"We echo the requests of the Victoria Police for the swift and safe conclusion of this tragedy," she said.

"I lend my full support to Victoria Police in their search for my husband and will co-operate with Victoria Police in any way that I can.

"Please Dezi, if you see or hear this, call 000 and arrange a surrender plan with the police.

"If anyone is harbouring, helping or supporting Dezi, please call 000 immediate and speak with the police.

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"If anyone has seen Dezi or knows anything that may help the police to understand his whereabouts, even if it is just a snippet of information, please call 000 immediately."

Amalia Freeman said she and her children felt "deep sorrow" for the shooting ambush. 9News

Arrest made as nephew speaks

Steven Mallett says he's never met the fugitive but like Freeman is a member of a doomsday prepper group.

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On Friday, police arrested the 61-year-old but the former outlaw bikie gang member is adamant he's not helping the so-called sovereign citizen.

Dezi Freeman's nephew Luke and the extended Filby family is desperate to distance themselves from the Lone Wolf who's hiding in the high country.

"That's always been Dez's holy place that's like, you know, he's always told me, if you wanted to be dead and buried somewhere, it's going to be on Mount Buffalo," Luke said.

Steven Mallett says he's never met the fugitive but like Freeman is a member of a doomsday prepper group. 9News

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Dezi Freeman's nephew Luke and the extended Filby family are desperate to distance themselves from the Lone Wolf who's hiding in the high country. 9News

Search enters sixth day

Police have shifted their operational headquarters as the hunt for Dezi Freeman enters its sixth day.

Yesterday, police announced they were moving their command post from Feathertop Winery to the Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action in Ovens.

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"The new site is a fit for purpose facility and will best support Victoria Police's operational activity moving forward," Victoria Police wrote on X.

READ MORE: Man, woman stabbed in 'mistaken identity' attack in Sydney home

Dezi Freeman interviewed for A Current Affair (Nine)

Police continue to search for accused killer Dezi Freeman. Nine

"We would like to reassure the community that police are not leaving the area. Locals and visitors to the area will still see police activity in and around the Porepunkah and Alpine communities."

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More than 450 officers, including specialist personnel, are involved in the search.

Freeman, also known as Desmond Filby, has not been seen since police executing a search warrant on his Porepunkah home were ambushed in a hail of gunfire.

READ MORE: 'Obey our laws or you get punted': Opposition react to Labor's deportation plan

Police have shifted their headquarters in the area. Justin McManus

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Freeman is accused of killing two officers, Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, and wounding a third.

The self-proclaimed sovereign citizen is believed to have fled on foot into the bush after the shooting on August 26.

Police say he is heavily armed with multiple guns and that he is a skilled outdoorsman with good bushcraft.

READ MORE: Police officer hospitalised after he was allegedly dragged by teens in stolen car

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Freeman has not been seen since the shooting. Justin McManus

Officers have widened their search recently, extending to properties in Myrtleford and Bright.

A 61-year-old man was arrested in Bright on Friday night and charged with drug and weapon offences.

He allegedly said he and Freeman were in some online groups together.

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