Source : Perth Now news
THE SHOOTING DEATH OF COP-KILLER DEZI FREEMAN:
* Fugitive Dezi Freeman was killed at a rural property in Victoria’s northeast shortly after 8.30am on Monday following a seven-month manhunt
* The man has not yet been formally identified, but Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush say he believes it’s Freeman
* Freeman is believed to have been armed and refused to surrender peacefully during a roughly three-hour stand-off, which began about 5.30am
* Freeman was found hiding out at a rural property at Tholongolong, near Walwa, more than two hours’ drive from his last known location
* Mr Bush described the structure he was in as a cross between a long caravan and container
* No other people are believed to have been living at the property
* Mr Bush said the shooting was justified based on available information and would not confirm whether Freeman had fired at police
* No police were injured during the operation
* Freeman was wanted over the fatal shootings of Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart-Hottart, who were among a team of officers serving a warrant at his home in Porepunkah in late August
* The slain officers’ families were the first to be notified of the shooting, Mr Bush said
* Police are investigating whether Freeman received assistance in evading police detection
* Mr Bush maintained previous information suggested Freeman had taken his own life
* Police will review Monday’s operation and support a coroner’s investigation
