Dezi Freeman: The Hunt | Ep 3 | The force that never gave up
5/6/202622 min
The hunt for Dezi Freeman wasn’t just a manhunt. It was a battle on hostile ground.
Police moved into a community that didn’t trust them, didn’t want them there, and in some cases, openly opposed them. As tensions rose, investigators pushed on, determined not to lose their grip on the case.
In this episode, 7NEWS journalist Michael Usher and Crime Editor Cassie Zervos reveal the resilience of the officers who stayed the course, and the deeply confronting evidence they uncovered, including allegations of child sex abuse and hundreds of child exploitation files found on Freeman’s computers.
Dezi Freeman: The Hunt is a 7NEWS and LiSTNR co-production.
Listen to the podcast on Secrets We Keep or watch the vodcast on 7Plus.
CONTENT WARNING: THIS EPISODE CONTAINS REFERENCES TO CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE, GUN VIOLENCE AND SUICIDE. LISTENER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsCassie Zervos· Host0:00
This episode contains reference to child sexual abuse, gun violence, and suicide. Listener discretion is advised. [gentle music] A Listner production. Essentially, town was in lockdown. We were receiving text messages on the day, "There's a man on the run. An active shooter is at large." We did a door knock the following day, and the man came out armed. He was holding a gun, and I was pregnant, and I never felt so defenseless.
Michael Usher· Host0:33
Two police officers killed, one suspect gone.
Speaker 2· Soundbite0:39
We will not rest until we apprehend the offender.
Michael Usher· Host0:43
Desley Bird Freeman, a self-proclaimed sovereign citizen accused of shooting police, then disappearing into the bush.
Speaker 2· Soundbite0:51
His propensity to use violence has been shown. He's high risk to the community. Our resolve doesn't change. We will continue to investigate this matter until he's found.
Michael Usher· Host1:04
What followed was one of the biggest manhunts in Australian history.
Speaker 2· Soundbite1:08
He knows the area. He's a very experienced bushman, and I think it would be very hard to find him.
Cassie Zervos· Host1:15
Plunging the quiet tourist towns of Porpunkah and Bright into lockdown.
Michael Usher· Host1:20
Hundreds of officers and a million-dollar reward, then months without answers. I'm journalist and 7News presenter