‘F**king Scum, You F**king Die in F**king Hell’: Chilling Rant of Sovereign Citizen Who Gunned Down Two Victoria Police Officers at Rural Property
- Dezi Freeman, a self-proclaimed sovereign citizen, unleashed a vile rant over the dying bodies of two police officers he shot dead during a confrontation at his rural property in Victoria’s High Country.
- Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart and Detective Leading Senior Constable Neil Thompson were among a 10-person police team who arrived at Freeman’s property to execute a search warrant linked to allegations of child sexual abuse.
- Freeman, 56, allegedly shot the officers with a shotgun and took one of their handguns to deliver a point-blank shot to one of the victims.
- The inquest into the deaths heard that Freeman had a history of hostility towards authorities and had been living in a converted bus with his family in a remote area.
The shocking details of the shootings were revealed during a directions hearing at the Coroners Court of Victoria, painting a disturbing picture of a man consumed by a toxic ideology that led him to take the lives of two dedicated public servants.
On August 26 last year, a team of 10 police officers, including Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart and Detective Leading Senior Constable Neil Thompson, arrived at Dezi Freeman’s property in Porepunkah to execute a search warrant linked to allegations of child sexual abuse and the attempted production of child abuse material.
The warrant, which authorised police to arrest and interview Freeman, as well as seize electronic devices suspected of containing child abuse material, was met with hostility by the 56-year-old, who refused repeated demands to exit his converted bus.
Freeman, also known as Desmond Christopher Filby, was living with his family in the remote property, about 310km northeast of Melbourne. According to counsel assisting the coroner, Lindsay Spence, Freeman yelled at the officers, claiming the warrant was “illegal” and telling them to “go to hell”.
As the situation escalated, Freeman’s language became increasingly aggressive, with him reportedly saying “Oh for f***’s sake what bulls***” when an officer explained why they were there.
The court heard that Freeman claimed he “knew the law” and was “appealing the search warrant to the Supreme Court”, despite being handed a copy of the warrant through a window.
In a desperate bid to apprehend Freeman, Thompson attempted to climb through a perspex window above the bus door, but was met with a shotgun blast to the side of the face and neck.
De Waart-Hottart, who was standing nearby, was also shot in the head as he turned to run.
In a chilling display of brutality, Freeman then took De Waart-Hottart’s handgun and shot Thompson a second time at point-blank range in the head.
The court heard that Freeman stood over the fallen officers, taunting them with a vile rant: “F***ing scum … you f***ing die in f***ing hell”.
The inquest also revealed that Freeman repeatedly claimed “I had no choice. I had no choice” as he stood over the bodies.
As the investigation into the shootings continues, questions are being raised about the ideology that led Freeman to commit such a heinous act.
The sovereign citizen movement, which rejects the authority of the government and the law, has been linked to several violent incidents in Australia in recent years.
Security analysts say that the movement’s anti-authoritarian ideology can be particularly appealing to individuals who feel disenfranchised or disillusioned with society.
Analysis: What This Means for Australia
The shootings highlight the growing concern about the sovereign citizen movement in Australia and its potential links to violent extremism.
Law enforcement agencies are facing increasing challenges in dealing with individuals who reject the authority of the state and are willing to use violence to assert their beliefs.
The incident also raises questions about the effectiveness of current strategies for dealing with individuals who hold extremist views, and the need for more targeted approaches to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
Industry observers believe that the incident is a wake-up call for authorities to take a more proactive approach to addressing the root causes of extremist ideology, including social isolation and economic disadvantage.
“The sovereign citizen movement is a symptom of a broader societal problem,” said one expert. “We need to address the underlying issues that are driving individuals to adopt these extremist views, rather than just treating the symptoms.”
