Australian True Crime

Fugitive Dezi Freeman has been shot dead by Australian police after seven months on the run, following the fatal shooting of two officers, Neal Thompson and Vadim De Waart-Hottart, at his rural Porepunkah property last August.
Authorities say the 56-year-old, linked to sovereign citizen ideology, died after an hours-long stand-off in bushland when he refused to surrender.
We unpack what is known so far about the case, the manhunt and the broader concerns around anti-government extremism with Holly Hales, Chief of Staff at Australian Associated Press.
You can visit the Australian Associated Press at: https://www.aap.com.au/
You can watch our episodes by visiting our Youtube Channel here.
Join our Facebook Group here.
Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000.

For Support:
Lifeline on 13 11 14

13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732

Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie
Guest: Holly Hales

Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard

GET IN TOUCH:

https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/

Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook

Email the show at [email protected]

This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed.
Fugitive Dezi Freeman has been shot dead by Australian police after seven months on the run, following the fatal shooting of two officers, Neal Thompson and Vadim De Waart-Hottart, at his rural Porepunkah property last August.
Authorities say the 56-year-old, linked to sovereign citizen ideology, died after an hours-long stand-off in bushland when he refused to surrender.
We unpack what is known so far about the case, the manhunt and the broader concerns around anti-government extremism with Holly Hales, Chief of Staff at Australian Associated Press.
You can visit the Australian Associated Press at: https://www.aap.com.au/
You can watch our episodes by visiting our Youtube Channel here.
Join our Facebook Group here.
Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000.

For Support:
Lifeline on 13 11 14

13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732

Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie
Guest: Holly Hales

Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard

GET IN TOUCH:

https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/

Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook

Email the show at [email protected]

This is part 2 of our conversation with former Homicide Detective, Charlie Bezzina about the lesser known cases from his 38 year career with Victoria Police.
You can listen to part 1 "Episode 737: Strange Investigations with Charlie Bezzina" here.
You can watch our episodes by visiting our Youtube Channel here.
Join our Facebook Group here.
Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000.

For Support:
Lifeline on 13 11 14

13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732

Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie
Guest: Charlie Bezzina

Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard

GET IN TOUCH:

https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/

Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook

Email the show at [email protected]

This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed.
This is part 2 of our conversation with former Homicide Detective, Charlie Bezzina about the lesser known cases from his 38 year career with Victoria Police.
You can listen to part 1 "Episode 737: Strange Investigations with Charlie Bezzina" here.
You can watch our episodes by visiting our Youtube Channel here.
Join our Facebook Group here.
Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000.

For Support:
Lifeline on 13 11 14

13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732

Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie
Guest: Charlie Bezzina

Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard

GET IN TOUCH:

https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/

Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook

Email the show at [email protected]

Yesterday, (March 25th 2026), the Albanese Government introduced legislation known as the Survivors Law, aimed at preventing convicted child sexual abusers from using superannuation to shield assets from unpaid court-ordered compensation.
If passed, the reforms would allow victim-survivors to seek access to certain additional super contributions from their offenders, and would ensure those debts can still be pursued even if an offender declares bankruptcy.
Today, we are re-issuing episode 265 from July 2022. In this conversation, Andrew Carpenter and Adam Washbourne join us to explain why advocates have long called for these changes, and what meaningful reform could mean for survivors seeking justice and financial support to rebuild their lives.
Sign the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/strip-paedophiles-of-their-superannuation-and-give-it-to-survivors-of-child-sexual-abuse
Learn more about Fighters Against Child Abuse Australia here: https://www.facaaus.org/
Learn more about Andrew Carpenter's work here: https://websterslawyers.com.au/lawyers/andrew-carpenter
CREDITS:
Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram
Guests: Andrew Carpenter and Adam Washbourne
For Support:
Lifeline on 13 11 14

13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732

Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380


GET IN TOUCH:

https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/

Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook

Email the show at [email protected]