Criminologist Vincent Hurley said Freeman could remain at large for a number of days, as he has the advantage of hiding in an area he knows well.

Hurley said the thing that would weigh on him physically is not being able to rest.

“In his own territory, the challenges he faces include the weather and whether he has any supplies, like hidden ammunition, food, or additional clothing,” Hurley remarked.

“The harsh weather will take a toll on him both physically and mentally. He’ll be constantly alert, lacking rest, always wondering if the police are tracking him and about to catch him.”

“The police got the advantage at this point in time.”

Porepunkah is currently facing a severe weather alert due to strong winds, and the area is expected to experience significant rainfall with very cold nights in the coming days.

More than 450 police officers nationwide are participating in the search for Freeman, five days after he allegedly ambushed and killed two Victoria Police officers.

His 15-year-old son and wife are in police custody, with Hurley saying police would be speaking to them to try and figure out Freeman’s mindset.

“They would be looking to extract information from those two regarding the extent of his armament, his mental state, and what might have triggered this incident,” Hurley said.

“Behind the scenes, they will be trying to sort out all those logistical factors, and that information will be relayed to the negotiators for better insight.”

“He’s a sovereign citizen, he’s a right-wing extremist…that group of individuals are very much anti-police, so they’ll be trying to work out his frame of mind.

“It appeared to be a spur-of-the-moment thing.” 

Freeman allegedly fatally shot Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Constable Vadim De Waart on Tuesday morning at a home in Porepunkah.

A third officer was allegedly shot and wounded in the leg and is recovering in hospital.

Freeman is a self-described “sovereign citizen” who is known to police.

Hurley said police appealing to Freeman in a public press conference “gives him an out” if he wants to turn himself in.

“He will know that there are options available to him; he is not being boxed in, which will play on his mind,” he said.

“He will have to have options in his mind about what lies ahead in the future… my gut feeling is that he won’t come out of his own free will because he’s allegedly murdered two people, nearly a third.”

“I don’t think it’s going to end well.”

Hundreds of officers are still searching for Freeman today.