A million reasons to help the cops catch accused killer
Allanah Sciberras and Alex Mitchell |
Police hope a $1 million reward will tempt someone who knows where Australia’s most wanted man is to contact authorities.
Dezi Freeman remains on the run after allegedly shooting two officers during a deadly confrontation at Porepunkah, about 300km northeast of Melbourne, on August 26.
There have been no official sightings of Freeman and police believe he might be receiving assistance from people within his network.
If anyone is holding out information, police hope the seven-figure reward announced Saturday will give them a push to come forward and help them find the accused murderer.
Unlike usual information rewards, police only need to arrest Freeman, rather than convict him as is standard practice.
Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said the biggest reward in state history was not an act of desperation.
“Someone may be assisting him, someone may know where he is but has thought ‘no, I’m not going to say anything. I’m going to leave it at that’,” he said.
“This is an opportunity to come forward, share that information, and look at a reward of up to $1 million which is, as we know, life-changing for most people.”
Det Insp Thomas was quick to caution anyone interested in “vigilante justice” from actively searching for Freeman, noting he has already allegedly killed two police and the authorities could mistake them for the accused.
The reward was announced a day after police farewelled a fallen comrade in a heartfelt funeral.
Thousands of mourners attended Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart’s funeral on Friday at the Victoria Police Academy.
Even despite the emotional tribute, Det Insp Thomas said the force’s resolve to find Freeman had not waned.
“All police have come together to search for this person (which) is very, very moving but we must remember, we’ve had two police officers killed in the line of duty and a third person seriously injured,” he said.
“They were feloniously slain in the course of their duty, so we don’t forget that.”
Sen Const de Waart-Hottart was remembered as a smiling protector with an enduring fascination with Batman.
The slain policeman’s mother and father, Carolina de Waart and Alain Hottart, travelled from Belgium for the solemn service, while his brother Sacha de Waart-Hottart delivered a teary eulogy.
He described his blue-eyed brother as a “ray of sunshine” who only ever wanted to make people happy and laugh.
“He was my very own superhero. He was my Batman,” Mr de Waart-Hottart said.
The police air wing performed a flyover as more than 1000 officers lined the block for a long guard of honour for the hearse carrying his body, which will be cremated.
Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, who was the second officer killed, will be laid to rest on Monday.
Police continue to search for the pair’s alleged killer, with more than 100 properties in the alpine area scoured, although bad weather has hampered efforts.
More than 450 police each day are dedicated to the search.
The Australian military has been called in to help and is providing a planning specialist and air surveillance assets at the request of Victoria Police.
Police are not ruling out Freeman being assisted by a specific person given the tough terrain of the area he is in.
AAP
