Son of Cop Killer Dezi Freeman Makes Emotional Plea for Respect
Koah Freeman, the grieving son of cop killer Dezi Freeman, has issued an emotional plea online for respect, as he lashed out at people celebrating his father's death. The eldest son of the fugitive shared the post on a Facebook community page on Monday, just hours after his father was shot dead by police in Thologolong, in Victoria's northeast, following more than seven months on the run.
Background of the Tragic Incident
Fifty-six-year-old Dezi Freeman killed two police officers during a search warrant in Porepunkah on August 26 last year, before fleeing into the bush. A large-scale manhunt for the self-described sovereign citizen came to an end about 8:30 am on Monday, following a three-hour standoff. Dezi Freeman, who was born Desmond Filby, allegedly opened fire at police officers, killing two and injuring a third.
Koah Freeman's Heartfelt Message
Koah said he was not here to defend what his father had done, but urged people to consider the impact of their comments on his grieving family. I am not here to defend my father's actions because I know what he did was wrong, he wrote. Just bear in mind that to you my father was a cop killer, but to me that's still my father who raised me to be the man I am today. He expressed his distress over online celebrations, stating, This is news that I'll be grieving about while some of you disgusting humans celebrate online for ME to watch.
Criticism of Friends and Community Reactions
He also criticised some friends for their reactions, saying, What I'm here about however is seeing so-called 'friends' and people who I thought were nice people say some questionable things. Koah emphasized that he is monitoring all comments and hopes people realize how their words affect him. Before you have something smart to say, how about you try and experience 1 per cent of what me and my family are going through? If you can't then highly recommend keeping your nasty comments and thoughts to yourself.
Acknowledgment of Fallen Officers
Koah also acknowledged the two police officers killed by his father, Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart and Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson. My heart also goes out to the family's of the fallen police officers who finally have closure, he said. He hinted at undisclosed details, adding, There is more to this story that media will not tell our community.
Details of the Manhunt and Aftermath
Signing off as your local apprentice mechanic, Koah emphasised in the post that his last name was Freeman. Police revealed that Dezi Freeman had been living in a structure described as a cross between a shipping container and a very long caravan, about 146km northeast of his Porepunkah property. It remains unclear how he made his way there, or if anyone had been assisting him during his time on the run.
