Dezi Freeman chose violence until his last breath, with the double murderer's final moments and the events preceding the deaths of two police officers outlined in court.
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Freeman, who spent months on the run from police, was struck in a hail of police bullets on March 30 at a remote property in Thologolong, Victoria.
Fresh details about his death were detailed in a Coroners Court directions hearing on Monday afternoon.
Police launched a massive operation to find Freeman after he shot dead Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart and Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson on his Porepunkah property, 310km northwest of Melbourne, in August 2025.
Lindsay Spence, the counsel assisting the state coroner, said police intelligence identified that Freeman was living at Thologolong a week before his death.
On March 30, police moved in at 5.30am, waking Freeman who was seen an hour later wrapped in a doona or blanket.
Freeman called the responding police "thugs" and "bullies" who were only there to hurt him, Mr Spence told the court.
Over several hours, multiple attempts were made to engage in good faith negotiations, including police providing a mobile phone to Freeman.
He appeared erratic, drank from a bottle and said "come have a beer with me and we'll talk about it".
Mr Spence said Freeman emerged from a shipping container, holding a green bag in front of chest, with his hands not visible.
He raised a black handgun with his right hand and pointed it at officers, prompting the release of a police dog.
Special Operations Group officers believed Freeman fired at them.
Eight officers fired multiple rounds at the 56-year-old, who fell to the ground.
The weapon was later confirmed as the police-issued handgun of Sen Const de Waart-Hottart.
The tactical officers who confronted Freeman during the siege were not wearing bodycams and have no footage of the incident, the court heard.
Footage of the final confrontation was captured by a helicopter overhead.
Mr Spence also revealed that before the shootout, Freeman used his phone to record 23 minutes of audio from inside the shipping container.
Police had been attempting to arrest Freeman at Porepunkah, where he was living in a converted bus with his family, including wife Mali.
He was deemed a person of interest and was facing allegations of sexually assaulting a child.
Five officers had knocked at the door before Freeman yelled and refused to come out, saying the police "could go to hell," Mr Spence said.
Freeman was eventually shown a copy of the search warrant, which he described as "bullshit".
The court heard an officer climbed onto the bus roof but was unable to gain access, before Freeman said he was coming out.
After failing to exit, Det Sen Const Thompson lifted himself through a window to gain access to the bus, but as his feet touched the ground, he was shot.
He suffered a gunshot wound to the face and neck, and collapsed immediately.
A second officer, standing near Det Sen Const Thompson, yelled "gun" and ran, activating a duress alarm, the court heard.
Freeman then shot Sen Const de Waart-Hottart as the other officers ran and sought cover behind a shipping container.
"I had no choice," Freeman said.
The court heard Freeman returned to the bus after the shooting and swore over the bodies of both fallen officers.
"F***ing scum, die in hell," he yelled at police before firing Sen Const de Waart-Hottart's firearm at Det Sen Const Thompson again.
Freeman then stepped out of the bus with two guns and fired at a third officer, injuring them.
He was last seen running down the hills, and later sent a message to his wife.
"Get a mile away and keep going. See you in heaven, love," he texted.
State Coroner Liberty Sanger held a directions hearing on the cases of the police officers earlier on Monday.
Family and supporters of the slain police officers who were in court included Det Sen Const Thompson's sisters, Dianne Thompson and Lois Kirk.
Loved ones of Sen Const de Waart-Hottart watched the proceedings via video link from Belgium.
The inquest could be scheduled for March 2027.
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