Police killer Dezi Freeman taunted officers before fatal shootout

Police killer Dezi Freeman taunted officers to "come and get me", before he was shot dead in a hail of bullets in March, Victoria's Coroners Court has been told.

Freeman had been the subject of Victoria's biggest manhunt when he was killed in a police shootout, seven months after he shot dead officers Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart-Hottart, and injured another.

Details of Freeman's final moments on the morning of March 30, 2026 were outlined in the Coroners Court during a directions hearing on Monday.

Counsel Assisting Lindsay Spence said a week before Freeman's death, police received intelligence he was hiding out in a property at Thologolong, about 50 kilometres from Albury.

According to a summary read to the court, officers conducted surveillance before surrounding the shipping container Freeman was using as a makeshift home.

"Negotiations were attempted, however, were unsuccessful as the deceased was non-compliant with the negotiator's instructions, calling police thugs and bullies, and saying that they were just there to hurt him," Mr Spence said.

Freeman also asked a member of Victoria Police's Special Operations Group (SOG), "Why are you here?"

When the officer replied that he was there because of the earlier police shooting, Freeman said he acted in self-defence.

"The deceased also shouted numerous things about God judging police. The police were all corrupt, and that they were there to assault him," Mr Spence said.

Freeman walked outside and was shot in the leg with a non-lethal foam bullet.

At one stage he yelled, "Cowards, come and get me."

Police then threw a phone to Freeman, in a bid to conduct negotiations.

He refused to take the device and told officers, "Come and have a beer with me and we'll talk about it."

About 90 minutes later, police used the "Bearcat" armoured vehicle to pierce a hole in the shipping container and pump gas inside.

Freeman emerged with a green bag in one hand and a gun in the other, the court heard. The weapon was the same gun he had stolen from Senior Constable de Waart-Hottart after killing him in the initial Porepunkah siege.

Mr Spence said Freeman shot at police and eight SOG members returned fire.

"His injuries were deemed to be fatal," Mr Spence said.

Police later found ammunition in the pocket of Freeman's shorts.

Court told police were not wearing body cameras during confrontation

None of the officers who shot Freeman were fitted with body-worn cameras, the court heard, however footage from the police helicopter captured the final shootout.

Freeman turned on his phone's voice memos 23 minutes prior to being shot dead.

"That audio recording captures audio from inside the shipping container, including the deceased talking, some of the negotiations throughout that time period, audio of the discharge of firearms, and then SOG operatives clearing the shipping container," Mr Spence said.

The coroner is holding separate inquests looking at the deaths of the officers at Porepunkah in 2025, and the final shootout involving Freeman in March.

In the Freeman case, police are expected to provide a brief of evidence to the coroner by October ahead of a formal inquest, possibly next year.

Coroner Liberty Sanger said her court's role was not to apportion blame, but to conduct investigations and make recommendations to prevent similar deaths in future.

Echoing comments made earlier in the day when the families of the fallen police officers were in the court, Judge Sanger addressed Freeman's family, some of whom were watching online.

"I offer my condolences to all of you. I acknowledge the grief that you have experienced and continue to experience," she said.