Porepunkah shooting: Two officers dead and another wounded after shooting at High Country property, Victoria, Australia

[drsleuth]

 

[Cryptic]

Your hobby and craftsmanship sounds amazing Troops.

Unlike you, and for reasons you mentioned, I strongly doubt that Dezi would possess the ability, resources or discipline to make a functioning gun.

Sadly, he probably had the resources. Hi powered rifles would need about 2,500 dollars worth of equipment to produce if one shopped around.

The unknown factor is whether he had the ability and discipline to develop the required skills. Commitment to hand or tool skills is rare today. But.... if he had worked as a mechanic, the transition from cars to guns would be easier. Plus, he seemed to of had a lot of time on his hands.

 

[drsleuth]

Sadly, he probably had the resources. Hi powered rifles would need about 2,500 dollars worth of equipment to produce if one shopped around.

The unknown factor is whether he had the ability and discipline to develop the required skills. Commitment to hand or tool skills is rare today. But.... if he had worked as a mechanic, the transition from cars to guns would be easier. Plus, he seemed to of had a lot of time on his hands.

I think he had some "handy" neighbours to help him?

 

[Marg944]

Secrets from the hills: Why this single image exposes why some Porepunkah locals may not want to help police search for Dezi Freeman​

The Victorian alpine region, which is the focus of a major manhunt for accused cop killer Dezi Freeman, is filled with Ned Kelly fans who may be aiding the fugitive.

Freeman is an experienced bushman with knowledge of the many caves and disused mine shafts in the area.

Police suspect the self-proclaimed 'sovereign citizen' is being aided by a network of supporters in the region.

As a result, Victoria Police have not ruled out offering a cash reward for information to help capture Freeman as the manhunt drags on.

But money might not talk in this case, as the area is historically known for its anti-authority attitude, which dates back to the 1800s and the era of the outlaw bushrangers.

Australia's most famous bushranger, Ned Kelly, had his 'last stand' shootout with police at Glenrowan, just under 80km west of Porepunkah.

It's possible that the prevailing air of anti-authority is adding to the difficulties authorities are facing.

Inside the Freeman 'sovereign citizen region' that idolizes Ned Kelly

A single image says a lot about the area where Dezi Freeman went missing.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[drsleuth]

Officer slain in Porepunkah shooting to be farewelled with full honours

Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, one of two officers killed in a shooting in Victoria's north-east last week, will be farewelled at a police funeral with full honours in Melbourne today.

www.abc.net.au

Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, killed in Porepunkah shooting, to be honoured in Melbourne funeral​

Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, one of two Victoria Police officers killed in a shooting in Victoria's north-east last week, will be farewelled at a police funeral in Melbourne today.

Today's funeral for Senior Constable de Waart-Hottart will be held from 11am in a chapel at the Victoria Police Academy in Melbourne's east, with hundreds of mourners expected to attend.

As a police funeral with full honours, it is expected to feature a police guard of honour with a flyover from police aircraft.

Victoria Police said the chapel could normally accommodate 500 people but additional areas had been opened up to accommodate more than 1,000 people.

Victoria Police said all police stations would fly their flags at half mast on Friday to respect their fallen colleague.

Thinking of all the police & families today

 

[MrJ]

Other than this important story it’s a bit sad this case dropped from the ABC Victoria top stories. Hope old mate Desmond is found soon

 

[Marg944]

I haven’t heard if the Police have extended the “no fly zone” timeframe which was due to end last night at 11.30pm.

Porepunkah airport web cams show a clear sky today.

 

[drsleuth]

Victoria Police​

Rest easy Vadim

 

[Marg944]

Heartbreaking new details about slain cop as the first photos from his funeral emerge​

An avid traveller with the world at his feet, Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart should be plotting his next holiday adventure.
Instead, heartbroken loved ones, friends, colleagues and political leaders will farewell him at a private funeral on Friday at the Victoria Police Academy, where he started his police career seven years ago.

The 35-year-old grew up in Belgium before joining Victoria Police for what was shaping up to be a long, successful career until his life was cut short in the line of duty.

His colleague, Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, was also killed, while another officer was badly injured in an alleged confrontation with Dezi Freeman while they were serving a warrant on August 26.

The police chapel was bathed in blue before sunrise on Friday morning as flowers were laid at the gates of the academy in Melbourne's east.
Its capacity has been doubled from 500 people to more than 1000 people.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and Police Minister Anthony Carbines are among those attending.

The Police Air Wing will perform a flyover as his colleagues line the surrounding streets to perform a guard of honour for the exiting coffin.

Sad details emerge about cop allegedly killed by Dezi Freeman

Follow Daily Mail's live coverage here.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Marg944]

Police seize items from Dezi Freeman's home​

“Police have executed a search warrant to seize various items from Dezi Freeman's home as the manhunt for the alleged cop killer ramps up.
Officers swarmed the Porepunkah property on Thursday to scour his home for possible evidence.
Two sets of police convoys arrived shortly before 11.30am.

Two BearCats and another 15 police vehicles then arrived at the farm before heavily armed SOG police scoured the property.

Computers and cameras were among the items seized.

Authorities have scoured the property multiple times in the last ten days as part of the search for Australia's most wanted man.”

Sad details emerge about cop allegedly killed by Dezi Freeman

Follow Daily Mail's live coverage here.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Trooper]

Police seize items from Dezi Freeman's home​

“Police have executed a search warrant to seize various items from Dezi Freeman's home as the manhunt for the alleged cop killer ramps up.
Officers swarmed the Porepunkah property on Thursday to scour his home for possible evidence.
Two sets of police convoys arrived shortly before 11.30am.

Two BearCats and another 15 police vehicles then arrived at the farm before heavily armed SOG police scoured the property.

Computers and cameras were among the items seized.

Authorities have scoured the property multiple times in the last ten days as part of the search for Australia's most wanted man.”

Sad details emerge about cop allegedly killed by Dezi Freeman

Follow Daily Mail's live coverage here.

www.dailymail.co.uk

oh thats a worry, Dez running into the wilds of Buffalo WITHOUT A CAMERA. Hard to believe he left with no equipment for recording his profound and original thoughts....

If we get a pic of Dezz sans camera it will be a first... as an aside, I can't find a pic of Dez where he has managed to both tie his shoelaces up ( he prefers the Blundies with laces, but undone in true tradesman fashion) OR Dezzy without the camera paraphernalia togged up around his chest... he has taken radical steps to change his habits.

 

[essareem]

Police seize items from Dezi Freeman's home​

“Police have executed a search warrant to seize various items from Dezi Freeman's home as the manhunt for the alleged cop killer ramps up.
Officers swarmed the Porepunkah property on Thursday to scour his home for possible evidence.
Two sets of police convoys arrived shortly before 11.30am.

Two BearCats and another 15 police vehicles then arrived at the farm before heavily armed SOG police scoured the property.

Computers and cameras were among the items seized.

Authorities have scoured the property multiple times in the last ten days as part of the search for Australia's most wanted man.”

Sad details emerge about cop allegedly killed by Dezi Freeman

Follow Daily Mail's live coverage here.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Why did they need a search warrant? Isn't it a crime scene?

 

[Chimera]

We knew this first statement on 27 August was a play on words!!!


6.17am. 27 August 2025
“Dezi Freeman’s partner and children went to a police station late last night. No evidence suggests the family was with the suspect after the incident, according to Paul Hogan, a Victoria Police spokesman.”

Porepunkah police shooting as it happened: Accused gunman remains on run as slain officers named

Dezi Freeman remains the target of a major manhunt after allegedly executing two policemen and injuring a third in an ambush attack in Porepunkah. Follow our live coverage.

www.theage.com.au

Compared to the statement now:-



4.16pm. 3 September 2025

“On the ninth day of the massive manhunt for Freeman, who allegedly killed the officers as he was being served a warrant at his home in Victoria’s alpine country, Crime Command Detective Superintendent Jason Kelly told reporters Amalia Freeman was home at the time her husband allegedly opened fire.”

Wife of alleged Porepunkah gunman present at time of double shooting, police confirm

Police have said Amalia Freeman may face criminal charges for allegedly obstructing their investigation.

www.theage.com.au

For starters, I'd imagine LE have the partner's phone bugged, and have taken a look at any other electronic devices such as computers, etc. ?
They need to catch this perp any way they can, before someone else is harmed.
Imo.

 

[Trooper]

For starters, I'd imagine LE have the partner's phone bugged, and have taken a look at any other electronic devices such as computers, etc. ?
They need to catch this perp any way they can, before someone else is harmed.
Imo.

I am wondering who, or how either of them, that is Marli and/or Dez are accessing the regular Centrelink payment.... one of them has to rock up at the bank.... or chemist, or supermarket...to get cash or/and goods ..someone at Centrelink would be watching that account, surely .............

 

[Rocket333]

I am wondering who, or how either of them, that is Marli and/or Dez are accessing the regular Centrelink payment.... one of them has to rock up at the bank.... or chemist, or supermarket...to get cash or/and goods ..someone at Centrelink would be watching that account, surely .............

Joint bank account and Mali now accessing their money as usual, ie online or vis EFTPOS when shopping?

Neither of their support payments would be cut at this point, and if it’s just a disability pension and carer pension, they’d only have to update details occasionally online (unlike Jobseeker/Dole).

Do you mean to monitor her purchases ?

 

[Rocket333]

Why did they need a search warrant? Isn't it a crime scene?

To maintain due process?

 

[Trooper]

To maintain due process?

In Victoria, police can generally only enter and search premises without a warrant if they have the consent of the occupier. However, police can also search premises without a warrant if they believe on reasonable grounds:

• that a serious offence will be or has been committed
• that illicit drugs are on the premises
• that a fight is in progress or that an intervention order has been breached.

A search warrant is needed to conduct a lawful search of a person or property because it acts as a crucial safeguard for individual privacy and liberty, ensuring that police searches are justified and based on reasonable grounds before a neutral judicial officer. While police can search without a warrant in specific, urgent circumstances, the warrant process prevents arbitrary intrusions by requiring police to demonstrate to a magistrate that a crime has occurred and that evidence of it is likely to be found at the specified location.

Information About Search Warrants in Victoria | Criminal Law

In Victoria, both state and commonwealth laws apply to the issue of search warrants. Learn about your rights and Search Warrants in VIC.

www.gotocourt.com.au

 

[Trooper]

Joint bank account and Mali now accessing their money as usual, ie online or vis EFTPOS when shopping?

Neither of their support payments would be cut at this point, and if it’s just a disability pension and carer pension, they’d only have to update details occasionally online (unlike Jobseeker/Dole).

Do you mean to monitor her purchases ?

I actually don't know the process for Dis Payments.. I gather it is paid into a joint account , I wondered if it wasn't auto cut out on police say so....

monitoring her purchases makes a lot of sense...

 

[essareem]

To maintain due process?

Yeah I'm saying with a crime as serious as this (as well as ongoing), it would already have been under a crime scene warrant, why would they need a separate search warrant?

Unless they are looking for evidence of a separate crime.

 

[SouthAussie]

Maybe the investigators wanted to collect the electronics that were not in the bus, but in other areas of the property, so they needed a warrant. As those other areas do not belong to Filby, even though he may have been able to access them.

imo