The man suspected of the Porepunkah shooting, Dezi Freeman, has a lengthy criminal record spanning over 30 years, though he was never convicted of any severe offenses. Prior to the alleged killing of two police officers at a remote property in northeastern Victoria, Freeman had a history of threatening law enforcement and had his firearms license revoked. Despite this, his court record shows no past violence or firearms-related crimes.
Freeman, also known as Desmond Filby, has had encounters with law enforcement as far back as September 1990. Primarily fined for minor offenses, Freeman often failed to pay these fines. His criminal record reveals a.image infringement revoked in 2018 and a personal safety intervention order in 2021 that was later withdrawn. In more recent legal troubles, Freeman was found guilty of using a mobile phone while driving and refusing to provide a police saliva sample.
In documents related to his legal matters, Freeman claimed he and his family were struggling with homelessness and that he faced ongoing harassment by authorities. The court records reveal his claims of extensive police misconduct were not substantiated. He repeatedly asserted his rights to drive were unjustly restricted, impacting his family’s well-being.
Freeman’s legal requests, including a judicial review of his driving convictions, were ultimately unsuccessful. He had been convicted of speeding in 2023 and was fined accordingly. Peter Dunn, one of the magistrates involved in his case, was the same individual Freeman had a history with, as he tried to arrest Dunn previously.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/aug/30/suspected-porepunkah-gunman-dezi-freeman-had-no-convictions-for-violence-or-firearm-offences-court-record-shows-ntwnfb