Wife of Dezi Freeman Pleads for Fugitive's Surrender Amid Week-Long Manhunt

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The wife of Dezi Freeman, the fugitive accused of killing two police officers, has urged him to surrender and says she will cooperate fully with authorities.

He is accused of killing detective leading senior constable Neal Thompson, 59, and senior constable Vadim De Waart, 35.

On Sunday, Freeman’s wife Amalia Freeman shared her “deep sorrow” for the deaths of the two officers.

“We echo the requests of the Victoria Police for the swift and safe conclusion of this tragedy,” she said in a statement provided to the ABC.

“I lend my full support to Victoria Police in their search for my husband and will co-operate with Victoria Police in any way that I can.

“Please Dezi, if you see or hear this, call 000 and arrange a surrender plan with the police.”

Tough conditions have impacted search efforts with blizzard-like conditions and lashings of rain battering the rural town.

More than 450 police officers have been deployed to Porepunkah as part of the search, which has included examining disused mines, caves and dugouts in and around the rural community.

Police say they have received several reported sightings of Freeman since he went on the run, though none have been confirmed.

“There have been alleged sightings which we’re exploring,” Victoria Police chief commissioner Mike Bush said.

“We can’t confirm that they are of him, but if you think you see him, let us know. We’ll explore it.”

A police forward command post was relocated on Saturday from Feathertop Winery just outside Porepunkah to a government office in the town of Ovens, about 12km away.

A man in a black police uniform standing in front of a blue wall with a police mural.

Victoria Police chief commissioner Mike Bush said there had been several “alleged sightings” of Dezi Freeman, but none had been confirmed. Source: AAP / Joel Carrett

“The new site is a fit-for-purpose facility and will best support Victoria Police’s operational activity moving forward,” Victoria Police said in a statement.

“We would like to reassure the community that police are not leaving the area.”

Victoria Police charge man in Bright

Potential links between Freeman and a 61-year-old man who has been charged with weapons and drug offences are being investigated.

The man was arrested following a search on Friday of a property in Bright, about 6km from Porepunkah, and the seizure of weapons and a quantity of cannabis, police said.

Whether the man was associated with Freeman formed part of an “ongoing investigation”, a Victoria Police spokesperson said on Sunday.

“As this matter is before the court we won’t be making any further comment,” she said.

A man with brown eyes and short brown hair looking into the camera

A manhunt is underway for Dezi Freeman, 56, who police say is skilled at bushcraft and has extensive knowledge of the bushland surrounding Porepunkah. Source: Supplied / Victoria Police

It comes two days Freeman’s wife Mali and the couple’s 15-year-old son were arrested on Thursday night following an operation at an address in Chandler Court near the town’s centre, before they were interviewed and released.

Police helicopters and drones have been circling the area for days in the hope of catching a sign of the fugitive’s whereabouts.

Freeman, who has bush survival experience, was last seen in dark green tracksuit pants, a dark green rain jacket, Blundstone boots and reading glasses, police said.