The wife of an Australian man wanted in connection with the fatal shootings of two police officers has publicly urged her husband to surrender, according to a statement released to Australian media on Sunday.
The suspect, 56-year-old Dezi Freeman, is heavily armed and fled into the bush on Tuesday after opening fire on a team of ten police officers at his home in the northeast of Victoria state.
The horrific attack in the rural town of Porepunkah resulted in the deaths of 59-year-old Detective Neal Thompson and 35-year-old Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, according to police reports.
On Sunday, Freeman’s wife, Amalia Freeman, issued a heartfelt appeal for her husband to contact police and surrender, through a statement conveyed via her lawyer.
She said: “We echo the requests of the Victoria Police for the swift and safe conclusion of this tragedy. I lend my full support to Victoria Police in their search for my husband and will co-operate in any way that I can. Please, Dezi, if you see or hear this, call 000 and arrange a surrender plan with the police.”
Amalia, 42, also expressed her family’s grief, saying she and her children “share our deep sorrow for the loss of the lives” of the officers.
| Victims & Injuries | Details |
| Detective Neal Thompson | Age 59, killed in shooting |
| Senior Constable Vadim De Waart | Age 35, killed in shooting |
| Third Officer | Injured in lower body, expected to recover |
More than 450 officers have been involved in the search for Freeman, who is believed to possess bush survival skills and extensive knowledge of the local area.
Australian media report that Freeman is a radicalised conspiracy theorist and a member of the “sovereign citizen” movement, which holds that the law does not apply to its adherents.
Amalia Freeman emphasised that she and her children “respect the important work of Victoria Police and do not hold anti-authority views.”
She and her 15-year-old son were arrested late Thursday as part of the ongoing investigation into the killings, though both were released after questioning.
Police have reiterated their call for the safe surrender of Freeman, while the family’s public plea highlights both the personal tragedy and the broader community impact of the incident. Authorities continue to conduct an extensive search in Victoria’s rural terrain to bring the situation to a close.
