Sisters of slain officer sue Victoria Police over negligence in Dezi Freeman case
Consensus Summary
The sisters of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, who was killed by Dezi Freeman during a botched search warrant operation in Porepunkah on 26 August 2025, plan to sue Victoria Police for negligence. They allege police failed to deploy specialist forces and provided inadequate support, including being informed of Nealās death by phone and feeling abandoned during his funeral. Freeman, who also killed Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart and injured a third officer, was shot dead by police on 30 March 2026 after a seven-month manhunt. Both sources confirm the sistersā letter to Chief Commissioner Mike Bush in December 2025, expressing grief and frustration, and Victoria Policeās acknowledgment of their concerns, including direct meetings and liaison officers. The legal action follows the coronial inquest, though no date has been set.
ā Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, was killed by Dezi Freeman on 26 August 2025 in Porepunkah, Victoria, along with Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, 34, while serving a search warrant.
- Dezi Freeman was shot dead by police on 30 March 2026 at Thologolong, Victoriaās north-east, after seven months on the run.
- The sisters of Neal Thompson, Dianne Thompson and Lois Kirk, plan to sue Victoria Police for negligence, citing the failure to deploy specialist forces during the search warrant execution on 26 August 2025.
- The sisters wrote a letter to Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush in December 2025 expressing feelings of being 'ignored,' 'invisible,' and 'abandoned' by police, including inadequate support after Nealās death and at his funeral.
- Victoria Police acknowledged the sistersā concerns in a statement, confirming direct meetings with them and the appointment of police liaison officers for updates and support.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The sisters described being informed of Neal Thompsonās death by phone rather than in person, with no immediate support or human contact.
- One sister attended the coronerās court to identify her brotherās body, stating, 'No one knew who I was. I had to say the words myself ā my brother is dead, and I am his sister.'
- The sisters were seated away from the front of the chapel at Thompsonās funeral and had not been reimbursed for funeral-related costs as of the letterās writing.
- The legal action is expected to follow a coronial inquest, though no date has been announced.
- The sisters stated they had to approach Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier of Victoria at their brotherās funeral, as officials did not acknowledge them.
- Victoria Police confirmed the appointment of liaison officers from the Homicide Squad and local area to provide ongoing support and updates to the sisters.
- The ABC noted that Freemanās fatal shooting ended Australiaās largest-ever tactical police operation.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states the sisters were 'sat away from the front of the chapel' at Thompsonās funeral, while the ABC does not explicitly mention seating arrangements but focuses on the sisters being ignored by officials.
Source Articles
Sisters of officer killed by Dezi Freeman plan to sue police for negligence, lawyer says
Dianne Thompson and Lois Kirk tell Victoria police in letter āwe did not expect to feel invisibleā after Neal Thompsonās death Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The sisters ...
Sisters of officer killed by Dezi Freeman to sue Victoria Police
Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson's sisters plan to launch legal action against Victoria Police over his death. They also say they felt "abandoned" by police after their brother's death....