Full Story What we know about the shooting of Dezi Freeman
Mar 30, 2026
Nino Bucci, a justice and courts reporter known for detailed legal investigations, explains the seven-month manhunt for Dezi Freeman. He discusses how police located Freeman, the three-hour standoff, theories about assistance and earlier self-inflicted wounds, the scale and emotional toll of the search, and the next formal inquiries into the case.
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Standoff Ended Manhunt At Rural Property
- The manhunt ended with a three-hour standoff where officers confronted a structure described as between a shipping container and a caravan.
- Victoria Police spent hours negotiating from about 5.30am before shots were fired and Freeman exited without surrendering, according to Nino Bucci.
Initial Theory Was Freeman Committed Suicide
- Police long believed Freeman killed himself soon after the August killings based on a single gunshot and acoustic analysis.
- Extensive searches of Mount Buffalo found no body, making his reappearance 200km away surprising, per Nino Bucci.
Resurfacing Suggests Possible Outside Help
- Chief Commissioner Mike Bush suggested Freeman likely received assistance to evade capture for seven months.
- Bucci notes it’s logical given the scale of the manhunt and Freeman later resurfacing far from the original scene.