The nation is abuzz with mixed reactions following the controversial shooting of Dezi Freeman, an event that has stirred debate across Australia. While some argue Freeman dodged justice in the courts, others suggest his death might elevate him to martyr status.
Freeman, aged 56, met his end at the hands of law enforcement officers early Monday morning. He was discovered in a shipping container near Walwa, a location straddling the border between New South Wales and Victoria, around 8:30 am.
For seven months, Freeman had been eluding authorities after a violent incident at his property in Porepunkah, Victoria. During that confrontation, he fatally shot two police officers and wounded a third as they attempted to serve a warrant.
The announcement of Freeman’s capture and subsequent demise was met with widespread commendation of police efforts from Australians. “Well done, Victoria Police,” remarked one citizen, echoing the sentiments of many who felt relief at the resolution of the manhunt.
However, the operation’s conclusion has sparked a broader conversation. Some voices in the community argue that Freeman should have been brought to trial to face justice formally. Others have expressed skepticism over the circumstances of his capture, calling for the release of police bodycam footage to clarify the events leading to Freeman’s death.
Some argued he should have faced trial, while others shared their disbelief that Freeman had actually been caught, demanding to see police bodycam footage.
‘He should have been captured and made to stand trial. Police are not judge, jury and executioner,’ one added.
Macquarie University criminology expert Dr Vince Hurley told Daily Mail that Freeman had taken the ‘coward’s way out’.
Freeman, 56, was killed by cops after he was found in a shipping container near Walwa, on the NSW and Victoria border, at 8.30am on Monday
‘So far as avoiding justice, he took the coward’s way out by not accepting his responsibility for his actions,’ he said.
He warned Freeman’s death could see him idolised within some fringe communities.
‘The sovereign citizen will see him as a martyr given he avoided police,’ Dr Hurley said.
‘It is quite an achievement in their eyes.’
Freeman subscribed to the sovereign citizen movement’s ideology.
Adopters of this worldview usually believe the government is illegitimate and that the law does not apply to them.
Dr Hurley added there was only one group of people who could answer whether or not Freeman faced the justice he deserved.
‘The only ones than can actually answer this are the victims’ families,’ he said.
The manhunt for Freeman become one of the biggest police operations in the country, with officers scouring bushland and offering a $1million reward (pictured, police searching regional Victoria in September)
Dr Hurley said he was ‘surprised’ that Freeman had ‘lasted this long’ (pictured, police searching a forest in regional Victoria in September)
Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, 34, were the two officers killed by Freeman.
Former homicide detective Charlie Bezzina said Freeman was seen as a ‘lead sovereign citizen’ and that allowing him to become a martyr would be bad news.
‘But what he has done and speaking that way, we don’t want him to be revered in any way,’ he said.
Daily Mail understands police tried to negotiate with Freeman before he was killed.
The manhunt for Freeman become one of the biggest police operations in the country, with officers scouring bushland and offering a $1million reward.
Dr Hurley said he was ‘surprised’ that Freeman had ‘lasted this long’.
‘Given his social isolation, not many would have sympathy for him locally therefore lack of support for his survival. He survived through snow and summer heat,’ he said.
Dr Hurley added that the fact Freeman was found only two hours from Porepunkah suggests he may have had associates.
Former homicide detective Charlie Bezzina said Freeman was seen as a ‘lead sovereign citizen’ and that allowing him to become a martyr would be bad news
‘If he was in a container – and it depends on if it was abandoned or not, or owned by someone who knew him – but I’m thinking, given it’s been six months, it’s very possible be had assistance of some type,’ he said.
‘I’d do think that person or persons could be charged with harbouring him (if that is the case).’
Dr Bezzina agreed it was possible Freeman may have received help.
He said the distance from Porepunkah ‘doesn’t surprise’ him.
‘He may well have been allegedly harboured at that location. I’m yet to find some more details,’ Mr Bezzina said.
Asked if Freeman could have been making his way as far north as possible, given Walwa’s proximity to the Victoria-New South Wales border, Mr Bezzina disagreed.
‘I don’t believe he was going to flee further north. His associations would have been limited had he wanted to go further north,’ he said.
‘He’s had what, four or five months to do that, but he was obviously staying put because of his limited association, and probably feeling safe where he was.’
Mr Bezzina said the investigation does not stop now that Freeman has been shot, adding that if anyone is suspected of harbouring the fugitive, police will act.
‘They’ll be reacting quite quickly. They’ll be following right through and making further inquiries at that particular location,’ he said.
‘It just doesn’t stop by him being shot dead. It’s a matter of finding why, how long has he been here, and talking to people around the whole area as to what their knowledge was.’
Victoria Police confirmed on Monday morning that Freeman had been shot dead.
‘A man has been fatally shot by police at a property in northeast Victoria this morning as part of the operation to locate Desmond Freeman,’ a spokesman said.
‘No police officers were injured during the incident.’
