Dezi Freeman: The Hunt | Ep 5 | The making of Dezi Freeman
5/13/202627 min
He was known to the world as Dezi Freeman, but that wasn’t the name he was born with.
In this episode, 7NEWS journalist Michael Usher and Crime Editor Cassie Zervos trace Dezi Freeman’s origin story, uncovering new details about his childhood, the influences around him, and the pivotal moments that shaped his worldview — revealing the reality of the man behind the myth, and how he became radicalised.
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.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsCassie Zervos· Host0:00
[suspenseful music] A listener production.
Dezi (Desi) Freeman· Soundbite0:04
Desi Freeman. Desi Freeman. Desi Freeman.
Speaker 3· Soundbite0:07
What's your name, mate?
Dezi (Desi) Freeman· Soundbite0:08
Desi Freeman. Police He was known to the world as Desi Freeman, but that was never really his name. You're under arrest- You're under arrest ... 456. You are under- We want police to obey the law in a fair and just manner.
Cassie Zervos· Host0:24
And the man behind that name, his childhood, his influences, the moments that really shaped him is a story that raises really uncomfortable questions here.
Dezi (Desi) Freeman· Soundbite0:34
This is the power of the truth. The truth is more powerful than a thousand lies.
Cassie Zervos· Host0:39
Not just about Desi Freeman, but about how someone becomes radicalized.
Dezi (Desi) Freeman· Soundbite0:44
Because I know the law and because I try to uphold the law and protect myself, they try to demonize me.
Cassie Zervos· Host0:50
And what we miss along the way.
Dezi (Desi) Freeman· Soundbite0:52
They're gonna make some shit up on me, mate, because I stood up to them.
Michael Usher· Host0:57
I'm Michael Uscher and this is episode five of Desi Freeman: The Hunt, the making of Desi Freeman. [suspenseful music] Cassie, this is all fascinating, but let's go back to some basics, 'cause there's one curious point here, and that is Desi Freeman, the name, that's not actually his name.
Cassie Zervos· Host1:28
No, he was born