00:00Let's get back to our breaking news.
00:02Seven months ago, Desi Freeman shot dead two police officers in Portpunca in Victoria.
00:09Well, he has been shot dead by police this morning.
00:12We believe he was in some kind of shipping container.
00:15We're going to hear from police in 25 minutes' time.
00:18And there are a lot of questions that we would like to have answered.
00:22Let's go to Queensland University criminologist Dr Xanthi Weston now.
00:28Now, Xanthi, when you try to get into the mind of Desi Freeman, it's a very dark place.
00:35He was a self-declared sovereign citizen.
00:37He had a hatred of police and authority.
00:41There were some theories that we thought he could have died in the Victorian high country.
00:46He was very self-sufficient.
00:48Now he's been shot dead by police in Victoria.
00:52It's hard to see how this could have ended any other way, really.
00:57Good morning.
00:58Well, as you say, yes, we're waiting to hear more facts at that press conference at 11 o'clock this
01:03morning.
01:04So I'm sure we will have more information shortly.
01:07But really, there were only a few options.
01:09So many believe that Desi Freeman had actually died out in the high country.
01:13He may have suicided shortly after that alleged incident seven months ago now.
01:18So that would have been very difficult to find his body under those circumstances.
01:22But the police never stopped looking.
01:24They made a commitment seven months ago that they weren't going to stop until they found Desi Freeman.
01:29And ultimately, they proved loyal to that commitment this morning.
01:33Would Desi Freeman have been watching the media, watching the movements of police?
01:39And without the spotlight on this investigation, is there the potential that he perhaps got a little bit too comfortable?
01:48Possibly.
01:49I mean, we are speculating at this time.
01:52But although in the public forum it's been very quiet over the last few months, you know, we didn't really
01:57hear much about the ongoing search.
01:59But I guarantee there was one.
02:00And ultimately, we did have that $1 million reward that was offered for any information leading to Desi Freeman's location.
02:07And that may have played a part in this as well.
02:10But ultimately, as he clearly didn't perish out in the wilderness over those seven months, they are going to be
02:16asking questions as to whether he had assistance.
02:18Because that was the other main alternative.
02:21Somebody may have been helping him.
02:23And that's certainly something that they will probably be talking about in that press conference at 11 o'clock.
02:29Yes.
02:30And we will bring our viewers to that live.
02:33Take our viewers to that live.
02:34Xanthi, we really appreciate your time.
02:37Thank you.
02:37Yeah.
02:38So a lot of details we don't know.
02:40But we believe he was in a shipping container.
02:44There may have been a public tip-off.
02:46These are reports coming through.
02:48And he was near Wawa.
02:51I hope that pronunciation is right.
02:53In a shipping container.
02:55So we're getting a little bit more information.
02:56Obviously, confirmation will come at 11am.
02:59are from police.
03:00But that has been a seven-month investigation.
03:03And we're thinking of the families of Vadim and Neil this morning.
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