Two men arrested over investigation into fugitive Dezi Freeman are released without charge

Two men who were arrested as part of the investigation into how fugitive Dezi Freeman remained on the run after killing two police officers in Porepunkah last year have been released without charge.

Detectives from Taskforce Summit, a special group set up to track Freeman's movements, yesterday arrested the pair "as part of their ongoing investigation into the movements of Desmond Freeman".

A 48-year-old man and a 45-year-old man, who were arrested at different locations in north-east Victoria, were released pending further inquiries today, Victoria Police said.

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"The investigation remains ongoing and as such, we are not in a position to provide further details at this immediate time," police added in a statement.

No charges have been laid in relation to the shooting in Porepunkah in August 26 last year.

Freeman was shot and killed at a property in Thologolong in March this year, after seven months on the run.

At the time of his death, police pledged to follow every angle into his time on the run, including whether he received assistance from others.

Coroner's court hears of Freeman's last moments

Yesterday's arrests came a day after a coroner's court heard of the final moments before double police killer Dezi Freeman died in a hail of bullets.

Holding a police-issued handgun stolen from an officer he had left for dead months prior, Freeman was struck in a hail of police bullets on March 30 at a remote property in Thologolong, Victoria.

Fresh details of Freeman's death were detailed in a Coroners Court directions hearing yesterday.

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The court earlier heard the 56-year-old killed Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart and Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson on his Porepunkah property, 310km northwest of Melbourne, in August 2025.

The officers were executing a warrant after disclosure of an alleged sexual assault involving a child, as well as an attempt to involve a child in the production of child abuse material.

Seven months later, Freeman would point the stolen gun at a team of arresting officers before being shot himself.

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Counsel assisting Lindsay Spence told the court officers tracked Freeman down to a shipping container in Thologolong.

Police surrounded the dwelling on the morning of March 30, attempting to negotiate with Freeman via loudspeaker.

After two hours of negotiations, police deployed gas inside the shipping container.

Freeman emerged with a green bag covering his hands, before dropping the bag and revealing a firearm.

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"The deceased was struck and immediately fell to the ground," Spence told the court.

"The black handgun, which the deceased had pointed and discharged at the (Special Operations Group) members, was later confirmed as the police-issued handgun he had stolen from Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart."

Freeman had told the fatally wounded officer to die in hell moments before shooting him again, the court was earlier told.

Police had been attempting to arrest Freeman at Porepunkah, where he was living in a converted bus with his family, including wife Mali.

Five officers had knocked at the door, before Freeman had yelled and refused to come out, saying the police "could go to hell," Spence said.

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Freeman was eventually shown a copy of the search warrant, which he described as "bullshit".

The court heard an officer climbed onto the bus roof but was unable to gain access, before Freeman said he was coming out.

After failing to exit, Thompson lifted himself through a window to gain access to the bus, but as his feet touched the ground, he was shot.

He suffered a gunshot wound to the face and neck, and collapsed immediately.

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A second officer, standing near Thompson, yelled "gun" and ran, activating a duress alarm, the court heard.

Freeman then shot de Waart-Hottart as the other officers ran and sought cover behind a shipping container.

"I had no choice," Freeman said.

The court heard Freeman returned to the bus after the shooting and swore over the bodies of both fallen officers.

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"F---ing scum, die in hell," he yelled at police before firing de Waart-Hottart's firearm at Thompson again.

Freeman then stepped out of the bus with two guns and fired at a third officer, injuring them.

"He was last sighted running down the hill towards the river," Spence told the court.

Freeman later sent a message to his wife.

"Get a mile away and keep going. See you in heaven, love," he texted.

Speculation has been rife over how Freeman came to be in Thologolong, about 150km from Porepunkah, where he fatally shot the officers.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028