Natarsha Belling

All those details in just a moment.

But first, let's check the afternoon headlines this Friday, the 8th of May.

Now it's time to get into our deep dive on Desi Freeman.

In August 2025, Desi, who identified as a sovereign citizen, shot dead two police officers and injured a third after authorities went to execute a search warrant at his rural property near Paupanka.

For more than eight months, he was on the run, with authorities eventually suspecting he may have been dead.

Then, on the 30th of March, Seven News journalist Cassie Zervos received a tip-off from one of her sources, a number of texts telling her police had found and killed Desi.

Cassie has followed the case for months and now joins us to explain how the hunt unfolded.

Cassie, thanks so much for joining us.

You have worked extensively on this case with Desi Freeman right from the very first moment that he shot dead two police officers near Pawpunka until he was found and shot dead by authorities recently.

Tell us who was Desi Freeman?

Sure.

Thank you, Tash.

So Cassie, in regards to police turning up to his property, as you mentioned last year, before two of them were shot dead, they were turning up to actually execute a search warrant.

And we can now talk more about the details surrounding that.

Can you explain that?

Now, Cassie, as we know, these two police officers that were just carrying out their job, having no idea what they were walking into, we know they were shot dead in cold blood.

We know then Desi fled the scene and he was able to be hidden from authorities and escape from them for months and months and months.

Did you believe, because you worked so closely on this case, did you believe during that whole time that Desi was alive?

Because there was a theory he was dead.

Cassie, take us through that moment.