In brief
- Police were investigating the alleged sexual assault of a child when they executed a search warrant at Freeman's home.
- Freeman led police on one of the nation's largest manhunts after he killed two police officers who were carrying out the warrant.
This story contains references to sexual assault and descriptions of graphic violence.
The alleged sexual assault of a child has been revealed as the reason for a search warrant against Dezi Freeman that ended with him shooting two police officers dead.
Fresh details into the killings of senior constable Vadmin de Waart-Hottart and detective leading senior constable Neal Thompson in August 2025 at Freeman's property in Victoria's high country were outlined in a Coroner's Court directions hearing on Monday morning.
Counsel assisting the coroner Lindsay Spence said in his opening summary that police had executed the warrant after receiving disclosure 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.
"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," he told the court.
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"It was also intended that the person of interest was to be arrested and subsequently interviewed."
Freeman led police on one of the nation's largest manhunts after he killed the officers, who were among a team of police serving a warrant at his home at Porepunkah, 310km north-west of Melbourne.
The seven-month search for the 56-year-old ended when he was killed in a hail of police bullets on a remote property in Thologolong, near Walwa on the Victoria-NSW border on 30 March.
Sanger held directions hearings for the cases of the police officers on Monday, before turning her attention to Freeman's case in the afternoon.
The coroner will examine the three deaths in detail to establish who died, how they died and what could be done to prevent future deaths, Queensland University of Technology forensic criminologist Claire Ferguson says.
"They'll have a full reconstruction of what actually occurred, and that might be establishing people's exact positioning in the scenes and forensic evidence," Ferguson told the Australian Associated Press.
Speculation has been rife over how Freeman came to be in Thologolong, about 150km from Porepunkah, where he fatally shot the officers. That could also form part of the investigation.
Footage showed Freeman wrapped in a blanket when he emerged from the shipping container, which appeared to be a makeshift campsite, before pulling a gun from underneath and pointing it at police.
It is not known if he had fired the gun before multiple officers shot him dead, but Victoria Police commissioner Mike Bush has maintained the shooting was justified.
Whether that video will be shown to the public will depend on the coroner weighing up the benefits of transparency and accountability and the probative value of people seeing police shoot someone, Bond University criminologist Terry Goldsworthy said.
Investigators had been exploring the possibility Freeman received help from others in evading police for 216 days, with Bush saying it would have been very difficult for him to get to where he was without assistance.
Court hears details of the moments before police shooting
Spence described the confrontation between the officers and Freeman, who was inside a bus, when a search warrant was served at Porepunkah.
Police had been trying to arrest Freeman at the property, where he was living in a converted bus with his family, including his wife, Mali.
During the incident, which started at 9.50am, 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.
Officers called for permission to force entry, which was granted, although negotiations continued.
Freeman was eventually shown a copy of the search warrant, where he described as "b-----it".
The court heard an officer climbed onto the bus roof but was unable to gain access, before Freeman said he was coming out.
After Freeman failed 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.
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.
"F----ng 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.
Family and supporters of the slain police officers arrived in court on Monday.
Loved ones of de Waart-Hottart watched the proceedings via video link from Belgium.
Police association secretary Wayne Gatt and detective acting inspector Nigel L'Estrange from the homicide squad also attended.
Monday's directions hearing into the cases of the police officers wrapped up within an hour and was adjourned to an unfixed date while a coronial brief is delivered.
Readers seeking support can ring Lifeline crisis support on 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged 5 to 25). More information is available at beyondblue.org.au and lifeline.org.au.
Anyone seeking information or support relating to sexual abuse can contact Bravehearts on 1800 272 831 or Blue Knot on 1300 657 380.
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