Coronial inquests into Porepunkah police shootings begin today
Quick Look
- Coronial inquests into the Porepunkah police shootings, which resulted in the deaths of two officers and the shooter, begin today in Victoria.
- Directions hearings will determine the scope and timelines for the investigations.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Coroners Court of Victoria is commencing directions hearings into the Porepunkah police shootings. Two officers, Senior Constable Vadmin de Waart-Hottart and Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, were killed on August 26, 2025, while serving a warrant. Their killer, Dezi Freeman, was later shot by police on March 30, 2026, after a stand-off.
The Coroners Court of Victoria will commence directions hearings into the Porepunkah police shootings today.
In two separate inquests, the coroner will examine the deaths of Senior Constable Vadmin de Waart-Hottart, 34, and Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, along with Dezi Freeman, who was later shot by police.
What's next?
The coroner is expected to advise which Victoria Police member will be assigned to each inquest and set timelines for evidence submissions.
The first stage of the coronial inquests into the Porepunkah police shootings in north-east Victoria will start today.
Two separate directions hearings will be heard in the Coroners Court of Victoria before State Coroner Judge Liberty Sanger, who will oversee the structure and scope of the inquests.
The first hearing will examine the deaths of Senior Constable Vadmin de Waart-Hottart, 34, and Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59.
The pair was among a group of 10 police officers serving a warrant for historical sex offences at a rural property in Porepunkah when they were shot and killed on August 26, 2025.
In a separate hearing this afternoon, the coroner will consider matters relating to their killer, Dezi Freeman.
Freeman, 56, was shot and killed by police following a three-hour stand-off more than seven months after the incident, at a rural property in Thologolong, about 150 kilometres from Porepunkah, on March 30.
The cases were referred to the Coroners Court following Freeman's death, as part of standard practice for reportable deaths in Victoria.
First court hearing
Today's hearings are not expected to examine evidence but will instead shape how the inquests will be run.
Judge Sanger will confirm the Victoria Police member assigned to be the coronial investigator in each matter and establish a timeline for the delivery of key briefs of evidence.
Once delivered to the court, the judge will review the evidence before determining the next steps of the investigation, including its overall scope.
The Coroners Court has not yet indicated when the full inquests will begin.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The coroner will assign investigators and set timelines for evidence submissions.
Very likely · Within days
The full inquests will commence at a later date.
Likely · Within months
Open Questions
- What is the full scope and timeline for the inquests?
- Which Victoria Police member will be assigned to each inquest?
- When will the full inquests begin?