Dezi Freeman inquest: police investigating alleged sexual assault of child when two killed, coroner hears
Summary
Police were searching Dezi Freeman’s home because they suspected he sexually abused a child and tried to involve the child in making illegal images. During the police raid, Freeman shot and killed two officers. After a long manhunt, Freeman was found and shot dead by police.Key Facts
- Police had a warrant to search Freeman’s home for electronic devices related to child abuse evidence.
- The search was triggered by allegations involving a child under 16 years old.
- Two Victorian police officers, Neal Thompson (59) and Vadim De Waart-Hottart (35), were killed by Freeman during the raid.
- Freeman escaped into the bush and was the subject of a large manhunt across the Victoria-New South Wales border.
- After about seven months, police found Freeman at a remote campsite and shot him dead.
- The coroner is investigating the deaths to understand what happened and how to avoid similar events in the future.
- A $1 million reward was offered for information leading to Freeman’s arrest, the largest in Victoria’s history.
- Over 125 officers from Australia and New Zealand took part in the manhunt.
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