Dezi Freeman shooting live updates: Australian fugitive shot dead after refusing to surrender peacefully, police say

Key eventsShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureThologolong resident reports helicopters, loudspeakers and siren in areaA farmer from Thologolong, Neil Sutherland, spoke to ABC radio this morning, saying he heard a shot ring out about a kilometre down the road from where he was, while it was still dark this morning.Sutherland said: double quotation markIt was definitely not regular because there were helicopters, or one helicopter, circling the area, and I heard a loudspeaker and a siren, but I couldn’t hear what they were saying on the loudspeaker because of the helicopter. ShareUpdated at 05.58 CESTHere are some images of the property where we understand Dezi Freeman was killed.View image in fullscreenA rural property near Thologolong, near Tallangatta, Victoria, on the border with New South Wales. Photograph: Jodie McMaster/AAPThe property is near Thologolong, a small rural locale near the Murray River, not far from Walwa.View image in fullscreenA closer view of the property. Photograph: Jodie McMaster/AAPView image in fullscreenA vehicle visible through the trees. Photograph: Jodie McMaster/AAPShareUpdated at 05.55 CESTA visual reminder, for anyone who isn’t familiar with the Porepunkah area, just how mountainous that terrain is, and how thick the bush is that Dezi Freeman fled into back in August.View image in fullscreenThe Porepunkah property where Dezi Freeman was living, in the shadow of the mountains. Photograph: Ellen Smith/The GuardianView image in fullscreenRock formations near the Chalet at Mt Buffalo. Photograph: Ellen Smith/The GuardianView image in fullscreenThe Ovens and Buckland River meet at the back of Mt Buffalo Caravan Park, just out of Porepunkah. Photograph: Ellen Smith/The GuardianShareUpdated at 05.25 CESTI’m handing back to Stephanie Convery now.ShareMore on potential use of police weaponsJust circling back to the press conference earlier, Victorian police commissioner Mike Bush was asked whether the weapon Dezi Freeman had in his possession at the time of the shooting on Monday was “one of the weapons taken off the officers” during the Porepunkah shooting.Bush said it was a possibility that police were exploring.It is worth noting that in early February, when police strongly believed Freeman had killed himself, police conducted firearms testing within Mount Buffalo national park.ShareUpdated at 05.06 CESTWho is Dezi Freeman?If you’re wondering about who Dezi Freeman was, and how we got here, my colleague Caitlin Cassidy has the rundown.ShareUpdated at 04.19 CEST‘End of a long and difficult chapter’, state Liberals sayThe Victorian opposition leader, Jess Wilson, and shadow police minister, Brad Battin, said in a statement that today “marks the end of a long and difficult chapter for Victoria police”.They said: double quotation markFor more than six months, a man accused of murdering two police officers and seriously injuring another has been on the run. The Liberals and Nationals commend the extraordinary skill, determination and persistence of Victoria Police, who have worked tirelessly to bring this matter to a close. There will be a sense of relief across the force today, but also deep and lasting grief. Our thoughts remain with the families of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart, whose lives were taken in the line of duty. Nothing can undo their loss, but today may bring a measure of closure. The pair also extended thoughts to the Porepunkah community, and praised police across the state for their courage and service.ShareUpdated at 04.00 CESTWatch: Victoria police’s press conference on Dezi Freeman being shot deadDezi Freeman shot dead by police after seven-month-long manhunt – videoShareUpdated at 03.44 CESTStephanie ConveryI’m going to hand you over to my colleague Josh Taylor now.ShareThe parents of Sen Const Vadim de Waart-Hottart, one of the officers shot and killed in August, were in Melbourne on Friday for an unrelated police memorial. Bush said they were still in the city and that he would be meeting with them shortly.ShareUpdated at 03.29 CESTIn September last year, as the hunt for Freeman wore on, police offered a $1m reward for information about his whereabouts that would lead to his arrest.When asked today if anyone had claimed that reward, Bush said: double quotation markAnything in relation to any rewards or anything else about the investigation will be kept confidential. The police webpage that advertised the reward has now been taken down, but the Wayback Machine shows it was still live earlier this month.ShareAs is standard when there is a shooting by police, the Professional Standards Command will have oversight of the investigation into it, and there will be a coronial hearing. A statement earlier this morning confirmed that the coroner would attend the scene itself.Share

View Original Article