Australian fugitive Dezi Freeman on the run as ex-soldier outlines endgame for manhunt

Dezi Freeman, 56, has been on the run for more than three weeks after allegedly gunning down two officers and fleeing into dense bushland in Victoria. Police say he styles himself as a sovereign citizen and is an experienced bushman who may have pre-positioned supply caches to survive in harsh terrain. The manhunt has been described as the largest tactical operation in Australian police history.

On the morning of August 26, detectives attended Freeman's remote Porepunkah property in Victoria's alpine region to execute a search warrant related to alleged historical sex offences. Freeman, who was living in a bus, is believed to be armed with multiple firearms, including a homemade shotgun, a rifle, and a police weapon taken after the ambush. Police assess he could have pre-positioned caches to withstand long, difficult conditions in the bush.

Paul Cale, a founding member of the Second Commando Regiment and known as the killer commando for a dangerous Afghanistan mission, appears on The Trial Australia podcast produced by Daily Mail. He offers guidance on how to wind down the search for Freeman. Cale told host Wayne Flower that the task is extremely challenging because the Australian bush is vast and someone who has spent extensive time in a given area can lay dogged and hidden contingencies. He said that success would require disciplined search procedures, a large number of personnel, and a systematic approach to confining and narrowing the area under scrutiny. He noted that the sheer land mass means teams could miss him if observers move too slowly or cover too broad an expanse. He added that Freeman could be approaching the situation with forethought, which makes the case especially difficult.

Cale stressed that the challenge is akin to finding a needle in a haystack and emphasized the need for numbers to search the area effectively. He warned that the mission could end badly and urged Freeman to surrender, arguing that facing the music and bringing the matter to a close would spare further harm and protect both the public and the families of the officers involved. The interview also highlighted the fugitive's solitary nature and possible use of improvised hides and caches to survive in remote terrain.

Crime reporter Wayne Flower described the fugitive as now a central figure in one of the nation’s most protracted police operations, with authorities continuing to pursue every feasible lead while avoiding sensationalism. While public updates have been limited, the case remains an active investigation that underscores the difficulties of tracking an armed individual through remote, rugged country. The Trial Australia podcast, which hosts the interview with Cale, is part of a broader investigative series examining high-profile criminal cases in Australia.