The wife of Dezi Freeman is considering leaving her spouse after he allegedly gunned down two police officers and escaped into bushland, prompting a 10-day search.
Freeman, 56, is alleged to have opened fire on the officers executing a warrant for historical sex offences on Tuesday last week at the rural property in Porepunkah, about 300km northeast of Melbourne.
He allegedly killed Detective Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, 35, and wounded a third officer before fleeing into the bush.
The incident turned the life of Freeman’s wife Amalia – otherwise known as Mali – upside down, with her at the home when police hammered on the door.
She was arrested on Thursday and released, although police revealed on Wednesday they have not ruled out laying charges against her.
She is now in hiding, communicating through her lawyers to plead with her husband to surrender, a source told Daily Mail.
Daily Mail has spent 10 days in the town, talking to locals, and it’s understood that Ms Freeman’s marriage is all but over.
Sources close to her said she has decided that if even Freeman makes it out alive from one of Australia’s largest-ever manhunts, their relationship cannot continue for the sake of their children – an adult, a teenager and a toddler.
Dezi Freeman’s wife Amalia (pictured) is in hiding, communicating through her lawyers to plead with her husband to surrender to the hundreds-strong manhunt near Porepunkah
Dezi Freeman allegedly opened fire on officers executing a warrant for historical sex offences on Tuesday last week at the rural property about 300km northeast of Melbourne
While Porepunkah residents are devastated by Freeman’s alleged actions, there is a groundswell of support for Mali, who is known as a lovely person and a devoted mother.
The devout Catholic is understood to be a St Vinnies volunteer, donates to food banks, and cooks meals for the needy despite not having much money herself.
A friend, who wished to remain anonymous, told Daily Mail that Mali had recently made it known that she was keen to move the family out of their bus dwelling but was finding it hard to afford rent prices.
The home was just outside Porepunkah in the shadow of Mt Buffalo.
At least 450 Victoria Police officers have been deployed in the manhunt.
Freeman, who is ‘heavily armed’, remains on the loose and Chief Commissioner Mike Bush has refused to confirm how much taxpayer money is being spent on the massive search.
More than 100 properties have been searched in Porepunkah and nearby towns in the last week.
But despite hundreds of phone calls and information from the community and some of Freeman’s associates, they are no closer to finding him.
Sources close to Mali Freeman told Daily Mail she has decided that her relationship with Dezi (pictured) cannot continue for the sake of their children
Ms Freeman released a statement on Sunday, via her lawyer, urging her husband to turn himself in and sharing her condolences for the two slain officers
Police still believe that Freeman is being harboured or assisted.
‘We are considering all options in terms of where he may be… I won’t go into direct intelligence, but our elite team considers every possibility and deploys accordingly,’ Mr Bush said.
‘We appeal not just to him but to all his associates: he does not deserve to be protected. He needs to be in custody and held accountable.’
Mr Bush also did not rule out laying charges against Freeman’s wife, who he confirmed was present when her husband allegedly shot dead two officers and wounded a third.
She and her eldest son, 15, were arrested at a nearby Porepunkah property last Thursday night. The pair were interviewed by police and later released, pending further inquiries.
‘She’s been interviewed in relation to criminal matters,’ Mr Bush said.
He said police were still engaging her and added that she was yet to provide a statement through her lawyers.
‘As has previously been reported, she has been interviewed by Victoria Police … a brief of evidence will be compiled, and she may be charged in due course,’ Detective Superintendent Jason Kelly added.
Police still believe that Dezi Freeman is being harboured or assisted as the manhunt continues
At least 450 Victoria Police officers have been deployed in the search for Freeman
Ms Freeman had earlier released a statement via her lawyer to express the family’s deep sorrow for the loss of the lives of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart.
She added that she and her children respect the important work of Victoria Police and ‘do not hold anti-authority views.’
‘We echo the requests of the Victoria Police for the swift and safe conclusion of this tragedy,’ the statement relased on Sunday read.
‘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 triple-0 and arrange a surrender plan with the police.’