Inquests into deaths of cop killer Dezi Freeman, Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart begins
Dezi Freeman said after killing two police officers investigating allegations of child sex crimes: “I had no choice” and “I’m going to die in hell”.
Freeman’s comments were published in the Coroner’s Court on Monday morning, where an early hearing began as part of the criminal investigation into the events.
The court was told that there would be two separate investigations; one relates to the deaths of Detective Chief Constable Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, 35, on August 26 last year, and the second relates to the murder of Freeman on March 30.
The slain police officers were part of a 10-man team who arrived at Freeman’s Porepunkah property to serve an arrest warrant over allegations of historic sexual offences.
Following the shooting, the self-described sovereign citizen fled into the bush and continued on the run until he was killed in a police encounter in Thologolong, about 200 km away, on March 30.
A number of senior Victoria Police officers, including Homicide Detective Inspector Dean Thomas, attended the hearing to show support for their fallen comrade.
Also in attendance were members of Constable Thompson’s family, including his two sisters, Dianne Thompson and Lois Kirk.
In the afternoon the court will hold a separate directions hearing into Freeman’s death at 2pm.
State Coroner Liberty Sanger is expected to approve the first steps of the criminal inquest process on Monday, according to a Coroner’s Court spokeswoman.
“Judge Liberty Sanger will confirm the member of Victoria Police appointed as the coroner investigator in each relevant criminal investigation and establish a timetable for the delivery of summaries of forensic evidence,” the spokesman said.
“Upon receipt of the board briefings, Judge Sanger will review the evidence and determine the next steps of the investigations, including the potential scope, in due course.”
