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Who is Dezi Freeman? Porepunkah shooting suspect called police ‘terrorist thugs’ and tried to arrest a magistrate, court records reveal Who is Dezi Freeman? Porepunkah shooting suspect called police ‘terrorist thugs’ and tried to arrest a magistrate, court records reveal
(about 7 hours later)
Victoria police say alleged shooter remains on the run and armed after two officers killed and a third injuredVictoria police say alleged shooter remains on the run and armed after two officers killed and a third injured
Victoria police shooting live updatesVictoria police shooting live updates
What we know so far about the shooting in rural AustraliaWhat we know so far about the shooting in rural Australia
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Dezi Freeman, the man suspected of shooting and killing two police officers and injuring a third at a rural Victorian property, has previously called police “terrorist thugs” and has a history of association with pseudolaw and “sovereign citizen” ideas.Dezi Freeman, the man suspected of shooting and killing two police officers and injuring a third at a rural Victorian property, has previously called police “terrorist thugs” and has a history of association with pseudolaw and “sovereign citizen” ideas.
The Victorian police commissioner, Mike Bush, said the suspect was believed to be “heavily armed”. The suspect was still at large on Wednesday morning.The Victorian police commissioner, Mike Bush, said the suspect was believed to be “heavily armed”. The suspect was still at large on Wednesday morning.
Court records show Freeman has previously described police as “frigging Nazis”, “Gestapo” and “terrorist thugs”. He also once attempted to arrest a magistrate during a bizarre court hearing in Wangaratta.Court records show Freeman has previously described police as “frigging Nazis”, “Gestapo” and “terrorist thugs”. He also once attempted to arrest a magistrate during a bizarre court hearing in Wangaratta.
Last year, a Victorian county court judge found Freeman was guilty of using a mobile phone while driving and refusing to provide a saliva sample to police in September 2020 on the Great Alpine Road.Last year, a Victorian county court judge found Freeman was guilty of using a mobile phone while driving and refusing to provide a saliva sample to police in September 2020 on the Great Alpine Road.
But he lodged a legal battle after the judge cancelled Freeman’s licence and disqualified him from obtaining a licence for a period of two years from 8 April 2024.But he lodged a legal battle after the judge cancelled Freeman’s licence and disqualified him from obtaining a licence for a period of two years from 8 April 2024.
Describing fleeing from police, Freeman said he felt “threatened and preyed upon”, court records show.Describing fleeing from police, Freeman said he felt “threatened and preyed upon”, court records show.
“Even the sight of a cop or a cop car … it’s like an Auschwitz survivor seeing a Nazi soldier,” he said.“Even the sight of a cop or a cop car … it’s like an Auschwitz survivor seeing a Nazi soldier,” he said.
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Freeman said he drove away from the officers and filmed them in an act of necessary self-defence.Freeman said he drove away from the officers and filmed them in an act of necessary self-defence.
He was also arrested in 2021, while at a protest outside Myrtleford court, over 2019 allegations of sexual-related offending, according to a Border Mail article.He was also arrested in 2021, while at a protest outside Myrtleford court, over 2019 allegations of sexual-related offending, according to a Border Mail article.
In footage of him being taken into custody, the then 51-year-old man identified himself as Des Freeman when asked his name, the Border Mail reported.In footage of him being taken into custody, the then 51-year-old man identified himself as Des Freeman when asked his name, the Border Mail reported.
The Myrtleford court protest was in response to a private prosecution brought against the then Victorian premier Daniel Andrews accusing him of treason during Covid. But it was struck out by the magistrate because charge information had not been provided to Andrews.The Myrtleford court protest was in response to a private prosecution brought against the then Victorian premier Daniel Andrews accusing him of treason during Covid. But it was struck out by the magistrate because charge information had not been provided to Andrews.
In a video posted on Facebook in December 2021, Freeman told magistrate Peter Dunn that he was under arrest for “aiding and abetting” and “perverting the course of justice”.In a video posted on Facebook in December 2021, Freeman told magistrate Peter Dunn that he was under arrest for “aiding and abetting” and “perverting the course of justice”.
“You are now in my custody and under arrest. You are not free to leave,” he said.“You are now in my custody and under arrest. You are not free to leave,” he said.
Freeman has a history of association with pseudolaw and “sovereign citizen” ideas and influencers.Freeman has a history of association with pseudolaw and “sovereign citizen” ideas and influencers.
“Sovereign citizens” or pseudolaw adherents often have a range of conspiratorial beliefs, including that a country’s laws have become illegitimate and the government is corrupted, leading them to reject its authority.
On a pseudolaw podcast in 2019, Freeman called himself a photographer from north-east Victoria. He described his battle with “newcomers from Melbourne” who he claimed had closed off a road “that’s been used for 120 years”.On a pseudolaw podcast in 2019, Freeman called himself a photographer from north-east Victoria. He described his battle with “newcomers from Melbourne” who he claimed had closed off a road “that’s been used for 120 years”.
He described his day in court, which included telling the magistrate he had “no rightful authority” and instructing police to arrest him.He described his day in court, which included telling the magistrate he had “no rightful authority” and instructing police to arrest him.
“The police officers were informed that it’s their duty to make the arrest, which they refused to do. No surprises there,” he said.“The police officers were informed that it’s their duty to make the arrest, which they refused to do. No surprises there,” he said.
“The law is the law. No one is above it. I don’t care if it’s the Queen or the Pope or ‘Scumo’ or whoever it is.”“The law is the law. No one is above it. I don’t care if it’s the Queen or the Pope or ‘Scumo’ or whoever it is.”
A 2018 episode of A Current Affair featured Freeman and his family complaining about a neighbourly dispute at their then Mount Buffalo property.A 2018 episode of A Current Affair featured Freeman and his family complaining about a neighbourly dispute at their then Mount Buffalo property.
The report said Freeman and his family complained about their neighbour’s dirt bike stunts, loud chainsaws and verbal abuse five years before the broadcast.The report said Freeman and his family complained about their neighbour’s dirt bike stunts, loud chainsaws and verbal abuse five years before the broadcast.
Freeman described the dispute as “full out war” and said his neighbours were the “instigators” of it.Freeman described the dispute as “full out war” and said his neighbours were the “instigators” of it.
The ACA report said Freeman and his family were leaving the property where they had lived for six years.The ACA report said Freeman and his family were leaving the property where they had lived for six years.