Andrew Swift breaks silence on Dezi Freeman police shooting aftermath at Porepunkah property
Consensus Summary
The articles cover Andrew Swift, owner of the Porepunkah property where Dezi Freeman fatally shot two police officers on August 26, 2025, breaking his silence about the aftermath. All sources confirm Swift assisted a wounded officer and was the only civilian eyewitness outside police and Freeman’s family. Freeman fled into bushland and was killed by police in March 2026 after a seven-month manhunt. While both NEWSCOMAU and ABC agree on core facts, ABC adds details from a longer video where Swift claims he filmed the incident but had footage confiscated, and described Freeman’s demeanor and a direct confrontation ('Don’t be a d**k, Dezi!'). NEWSCOMAU highlights Swift’s distrust of media and police intimidation claims, while ABC emphasizes the role of a festival-connected group in releasing the video. A coronial inquest is pending, with police declining further comment.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Andrew Swift, 56, owns the Rayner Track (Porepunkah) property where Dezi Freeman shot and killed officers Vadim de Waart-Hottart (35) and Neal Thompson (59) on August 26, 2025
- Swift claims he was the first civilian eyewitness (outside police and Freeman family) at the scene and assisted a wounded officer with a gunshot to the lower body
- Swift’s interview was released via YouTuber Dave Armstrong’s ‘Living Free Movement’ platform, with claims of distrust toward mainstream media
- Dezi Freeman fled into bushland after the shooting and was shot dead by police in a confrontation at Thologolong on March 30, 2026, after a seven-month manhunt
- Victoria Police confirmed no charges will be pursued against Freeman’s wife, Mali, due to insufficient evidence, as reviewed by Taskforce Summit detectives
- A coronial inquest into the incident is scheduled to begin later in May 2026
- Swift’s property is a 20-acre bush block where Freeman and his family lived in a converted bus in exchange for labor
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Swift previously avoided an obstruction charge due to insufficient evidence, per *The Herald Sun* reporting.
- Swift and his wife, Rebecca, issued a statement criticizing police protocol, claiming the tragedy could have been avoided with 'commonsense, decency, and reason'.
- Dave Armstrong claimed the Swifts had been intimidated by Victorian Police during follow-up inquiries.
- Swift is known locally as 'Swifty'.
- Swift claims he filmed the entire incident on his phone but that the footage was confiscated by police.
- Swift said he yelled at Freeman, 'Don’t be a d**k, Dezi! Just be calm,' during the standoff.
- Swift described Freeman as 'quite together' but 'heightened in anxiety' during the police operation, and said he did not hear Freeman mention a gun to police initially.
- Swift said he phoned Freeman after shots were fired, and Freeman gave conflicting locations ('in the bus' and 'down at the huts').
- The video was made with a group Swift met at a festival before the shooting, due to distrust of mainstream media.
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- Newscomau states Swift’s interview with Dave Armstrong marks his *first* public appearance since the shooting, while ABC implies he had previously spoken in a longer October 2025 video.
- Newscomau does not mention Swift’s claim of filming the incident or police confiscating his phone, which ABC reports exclusively.
- Newscomau omits Swift’s direct quote 'Don’t be a d**k, Dezi!' during the standoff, which ABC includes as a key detail.
Source Articles
Owner of property where Dezi Freeman murdered two cops breaks silence
The owner of the remote Porepunkah property where Dezi Freeman shot dead two police officers has broken his silence, revealing what he found in the moments after the cold-blooded killings.
Freeman property owner breaks silence
The owner of the remote property where Dezi Freeman lived has revealed for the first time how he helped a critically injured officer in the chaotic aftermath of the fatal police shooting.
'Don't be a d**k, Dezi!': New claims about Freeman police shooting
The owner of the Porepunkah property where Dezi Freeman shot two police officers says he rang and spoke to Freeman soon after the shooting.
Property owner says he helped wounded officer after Dezi Freeman shot at police
A Porepunkah property owner says he helped a wounded police officer after the fatal shooting when Dezi Freeman killed two Victoria police officers.