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A man and a woman have been taken into custody following a probe into the whereabouts of Dezi Freeman, who was fatally shot this week.
Victoria Police apprehended the duo at two different locations in the state’s northeast on Saturday morning. However, they were released later that evening as investigations continue.
“Detectives from Taskforce Summit detained two individuals this morning as part of their ongoing investigation into the activities of Desmond Freeman,” a police spokesperson stated.
Although the pair were questioned by police, no charges have been filed against them. They have no family ties to Freeman.
The 56-year-old fugitive met his end when specialist police unleashed a barrage of bullets at a remote property in Thologolong, close to Walwa along the Victoria-NSW border, on Monday, following a manhunt that lasted seven months.
Freeman was wanted for the alleged fatal shooting of Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart-Hottart, who were among a team of police officers serving a warrant at his Porepunkah home in late August.
Speculation has been rife over how Freeman came to be in Thologolong, which is about 150km from where he fatally shot the officers.
The property is owned by Rick Sutherland, but his brother Neil said he had no idea the fugitive was camped out there.
Neil said his brother had been in Tasmania at the time and, unlike Freeman, was not a sovereign citizen.
Sutherland, who lives two properties from the site of the shooting, has reportedly said his brother has contacted police to offer his assistance.
Investigators are exploring the possibility Freeman received help from others in evading police for 216 days, with police chief Mike Bush saying it would have been very difficult for him to get to where he was without assistance.
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