Category Archives: Porepunkah shooting

Victoria police re-enact single gunshot heard hour after Dezi Freeman fled into Porepunkah bushland

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‘Firearms testing’ triggered by reports of gunshot at about 11.45am on day Freeman is alleged to have killed two police officers serving warrant

A reported single gunshot has sparked a fresh line of inquiry in the long-running manhunt for alleged police killer Desmond “Dezi” Freeman.

Victoria police conducted “firearms testing” near Barrett Lane and Rayner Track in Porepunkah, about 210km north-east of Melbourne, on Wednesday as part of their search.

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Dezi Freeman search has hit the one-month mark. How long might police continue the manhunt?

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Hunt for suspected Porepunkah shooter ‘cannot go on for infinitum’, one retired detective says. ‘It has to have a line in the sand somewhere’

As the search for fugitive Dezi Freeman hits the one-month mark, questions are growing about when police may draw “a line in the sand” and call it quits.

The suspected Porepunkah police killer, also known as Desmond Filby, has been on the run since 26 August, when he allegedly shot and killed two officers who were part of a group executing a search warrant at his residence in Victoria’s north-east.

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‘We’ve got no tourists’: small businesses caught up in Australia’s largest manhunt struggle as aid announced

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Victorian government pledges up to $2.5m to help visitor economy in alpine region as search for alleged Porepunkah killer Dezi Freeman continues

The Victorian government has announced a support package for tourism operators and small businesses caught up in Australia’s largest manhunt.

The government announced on Monday that as much as $2.5m would be paid to support the visitor economy in Porepunkah, Bright and surrounding region, as the search for alleged police killer Dezi Freeman edged towards a fourth week.

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Suspected Porepunkah gunman Dezi Freeman had no convictions for violence or firearm offences, court record shows

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The 56-year-old made a series of threats against police and had a long history of minor offences, culminating in the loss of his driver’s licence in 2022

The suspected Porepunkah gunman had a criminal record stretching more than 30 years, but had not been convicted of any serious offences, court extracts show.

Dezi Freeman, 56, made a series of threats against police, and had his firearms licence cancelled, in the years before allegedly killing two police officers at a remote property in north-eastern Victoria on Tuesday. Victoria police is now investigating whether its risk assessment before the incident was adequate.

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‘Dangerous’ suspect who allegedly killed two officers escaped into bush alone and is believed to be ‘heavily armed’ – as it happened

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This blog has now closed

Wangaratta police have confirmed there is still an “active incident” ongoing and are continuing to urge people to avoid the area.

In a statement published to its social media page a moment ago, the local police service said Victoria police “continues to respond to an incident at a property in Porepunkah”.

This is still an active incident and we will provide more information when it’s operationally safe to do so.

We ask people avoid the area.

Tonight’s Ordinary Council Meeting has also been postponed, and will be rescheduled for two weeks’ time. Further details will be provided at a later date.

We thank you for your patience and understanding.

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