dezi freeman yelled abuse at a dying constable during the Porepunkah shooting that killed two Victoria Police officers, a coroner’s court directions hearing heard on Monday morning. The hearing added new detail to the deaths of Det Leading Sen Const Neal Thompson, 59, and Sen Const Vadim De Waart-Hottart, 35.
Counsel assisting Lindsay Spence said the officers were at the converted bus in Porepunkah at 9.50am on 26 August to execute a warrant after receiving disclosure of an alleged sexual assault involving a child under the age of 16 and an attempt to involve a child in the production of child abuse material. Freeman was living there with his family and told police they could go to hell when they tried to bring him out.
Neal Thompson and Vadim De Waart-Hottart
According to the evidence heard in court, Freeman called the warrant “bullshit” after being shown a copy. An officer climbed on to the bus roof but could not get in, and Thompson then lifted himself through a window to gain access. As Thompson’s feet touched the ground, he was shot in the face and neck.
A second officer yelled “gun” and ran, setting off a duress alarm. Freeman then shot Waart-Hottart as the other officers ran and took cover behind a shipping container. Freeman said, “I had no choice.”
Converted bus in Porepunkah
Freeman returned to the bus after the shooting and swore over the bodies of both fallen officers. He yelled “Fucking scum, die in hell” at police and then fired Waart-Hottart’s firearm at Thompson again. He stepped out with two guns and fired at a third officer, injuring them, before being last sighted running down the hill towards the river.
Freeman later sent his wife a message saying, “Get a mile away and keep going. See you in heaven, love.” He was also known as Desmond Filby.
Monday morning hearing
The directions hearing centered on the deaths of Thompson and De Waart-Hottart, and the evidence described how the officers entered the bus, how the shooting unfolded, and how Freeman moved after the gunfire. Freeman was shot dead by police seven months later after being found at a makeshift campsite about 150km away.
