Victoria Police announced on Friday, 13 March that it will not be proceeding with charges against three people as part of the broader investigation into the fatal shooting of two police officers in Porepunkah last year.
A 42-year-old Porepunkah woman and a 56-year-old Porepunkah man were interviewed in relation to indictable obstruction of police, while a third person was interviewed in relation to attempted theft.
Under Victoria Police Manual requirements, an informant must ensure there is sufficient admissible evidence to cover all points of proof for each charge and that there is a reasonable prospect of conviction being secured. That standard appears not to have been met in this case. Following a meticulous investigation, briefs of evidence were prepared by experienced detectives from Taskforce Summit. Yet these briefs were not authorised due to there being insufficient evidence to support a prosecution at this time.
The decision carries particular significance given the context. Victoria Police had described Freeman's wife during the incident as uncooperative, and indicated she could be charged with obstruction. Freeman lived in a bus at the Porepunkah property with family members, including his wife Mali. The 10 officers struggled to access the bus while Freeman was inside, refusing to leave, for at least 20 minutes. He was inside with his wife and child and shouted at police.
The lack of evidence to prosecute obstruction offences raises questions about the practical threshold for such charges. Obstruction can be a complex offence to prove, particularly where the line between passive non-cooperation and active hindrance becomes blurred. Independent review appears to have reinforced the initial assessment; the briefs were independently reviewed, and the same outcome was reached.
This decision occurs against the backdrop of an ongoing major investigation into the police shooting itself. On 26 August 2025, police officers Neal Thompson and Vadim De Waart-Hottart were killed in a shooting at a property near Porepunkah while attempting to execute a warrant. The alleged shooter, Dezi Bird Freeman, fled into the dense bushland of Mount Buffalo National Park. On 2 February 2026, Victoria Police announced that investigators did not believe Freeman was alive.
The decision not to pursue charges does not preclude future prosecution should evidence emerge. If new evidence is found at a later date, the police may re-open the investigation. For now, however, the three individuals have been cleared from any charges arising from police interactions during the warrant execution.