Dezi Freeman: Victoria Police issue warning to anyone who helped cop killer survive and hide for seven months

Victoria’s top cop says detectives are continuing to probe whether anyone helped Dezi Freeman disappear and survive in regional Victoria for the last seven months, warning “everyone ... will be spoken to”.

The 56-year-old was shot dead by the Victoria Police Special Operations Group on Monday morning following a 216-day large-scale search near Porepunkah.

Mr Freeman — a self-proclaimed “sovereign citizen” — had been on the run for about seven months after fatally shooting Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart and Detective Senior Constable Neal Thompson, who were executing a search warrant at a Porepunkah property on August 26.

A third officer was seriously injured during the ambush.

Freeman was discovered about 5.30am on Monday, in what Victoria Police Commissioner Mike Bush described as a “cross between a container and a very long caravan” believed to be in Walwa, about 2 hours north-east of Porepunkah.

He was killed by police following a three-hour stand off, during which it is believed he was armed with a gun.

“We’re very keen to learn who, if any, but I’m sure some actually assisted him in getting away from Porepunkah to where he was located,” Mr Bush told media on Monday.

“But that’s a very important part of what comes next to determine that, and if anyone was complicit, they will be held to account.

“We will conduct an investigation to see if others have been complicit and aiding him, not just in getting out of the area, but supporting him whilst he’s been on the run.”

The Herald Sun reported a Filipino couple had been hiding the fugitive on the property.

When asked if Victoria Police had any suspects who helped Freeman disappear, Mr Bush said: “If we do, we’re not about to share it here.”

Mr Bush confirmed no one had been taken into custody, but said he did not believe there was an ongoing risk to the public.

“We’ll be speaking to anyone we suspect may have assisted him to avoid detection and arrest ... it could be one, it could be multiple,” he said.

“There are vehicles there (on the property), whether he’s using them or not will form part of the investigation.”

He said the property was located in a “very remote community”, and said no one else was located at the scene.

“Everyone in that environment will be spoken to in relation to that very point to understand whether or not they actually assisted (Freeman),” he said.

“To my knowledge, no one else was in the immediate vicinity, but there may have been people in the wider vicinity at the time (of the shooting).

“We haven’t spoken to other people, as far as I know, I can only say again that that will form part of our ongoing investigation.”

In September, Victoria Police announced they were offering a $1 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Freeman.

Freeman’s wife, Mali — who police confirmed was present during the fatal shootings — and a 15-year-old boy were previously arrested but released without charge.

The incident sparked the biggest police manhunt in Victorian history, with Porepunkah and its surrounds locked down whilst hundreds of police officers scoured the dense bushland, caves and mineshafts around Mount Buffalo National Park for the fugitive.